Daijiworld Media Network- Washington

Washington, Aug 3: In a development that has sent shockwaves through academic and political circles, Harvard University is facing serious allegations of maintaining decade-long ties with organisations linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), prompting a U.S. congressional inquiry into potential national security risks.

According to revelations published by The Washington Free Beacon, the elite Ivy League institution allegedly collaborated with entities under the control of the CCP, including the powerful Central Organisation Department — a key agency responsible for training and selecting China's top political leadership.

Particular attention has turned towards the Harvard Kennedy School's partnership with the Chinese Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, a government-run institute. Whistleblowers allege that CCP officials were trained at Harvard as part of their official curriculum, fuelling bipartisan concerns in Washington.

“Harvard’s formal partnership with a CCP-controlled training school raises red flags about foreign influence in American institutions,” warned Representative John Moolenaar, while vowing to uncover the full scope of the relationship to protect U.S. national interests.

Congressional members Tim Walberg and Elise Stefanik have also raised concerns, accusing Harvard of promoting CCP ideology, including “Xi Jinping Thought,” within its academic framework.

The controversy doesn’t end there. Reports further claim that Harvard provided training to members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary group sanctioned by the U.S. for its alleged role in the persecution of Uyghur Muslims. These claims have intensified the backlash against the university.

Lawmakers have issued an ultimatum, directing Harvard to produce all records related to its collaborations with CCP-linked entities by August 7, including financial transactions and communication records.

This latest development comes against the backdrop of an ongoing feud between Harvard University and the Trump administration. In April this year, federal authorities froze $2.2–2.6 billion in research funding and revoked Harvard’s certification to host international students, citing its failure to act on antisemitism and ideological bias.

In response, Harvard initiated legal proceedings, accusing the administration of infringing on academic freedom. While media reports recently hinted at a potential $500 million settlement, university president Alan Garber rejected such claims, stating that no such agreement was under discussion and calling the figures "inaccurate and politically motivated."

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers — many of them Harvard alumni — have warned against any politically driven settlement, cautioning that it could lead to further congressional scrutiny and set a worrying precedent for the autonomy of educational institutions across the United States.

As pressure mounts from both political camps and within academic circles, Harvard’s handling of the CCP-related allegations is likely to shape the discourse on foreign influence and institutional integrity in U.S. higher education for years to come.