Harvard University is facing scrutiny from House Republicans for its handling of an anti-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) protest that occurred in April. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has sent a letter to Harvard’s interim President Alan Garber seeking answers about the incident.
The April 20 protest took place during a speech by Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., at the Harvard Kennedy School. Students protesting China’s human rights abuses were forcibly removed by an unidentified individual, raising concerns about potential transnational repression by the Chinese government. Moolenaar’s letter questions whether Harvard students from China might be involved in harassment and intimidation activities condoned by the CCP.
The event was organized by the Kennedy School’s Greater China Society as part of its Greater China Conference. Protesters, including members of Students for a Free Tibet and the Coalition of Students Resisting the CCP, interrupted Xie’s speech by shouting and holding Tibetan flags. According to Moolenaar, one protester, Cosette Wu, was dragged out by a person in a dark suit identified as a Harvard student from China. Another protester, Tsering Yangchen, reported feeling intimidated after being followed by a student who demanded the names of the protesters.
Moolenaar’s letter requests information on Harvard’s regulation of foreign government-backed student organizations and whether federal funding has been used to support such groups. He also seeks details on the Greater China Society’s coordination with the Chinese government or its diplomatic missions and any oversight of this and similar organizations by the university. Additionally, he inquires about ties between the now-defunct China Society and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, an organization known for its alleged links to the CCP and censorship efforts.
This investigation is part of a broader probe into Harvard’s handling of issues related to foreign influence and campus antisemitism. Earlier this year, Harvard’s leadership was subpoenaed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce over concerns about antisemitism on campus.
