For generations, America has been the world’s arsenal of democracy. From the battles of World War II to the long twilight struggle of the Cold War, our nation’s technological edge has made the difference between freedom and tyranny. America prevailed because we built faster, innovated smarter, and protected our secrets better than our adversaries ever could.
But today, we are at risk of squandering that edge — not because our troops have lost the will to fight, but because Washington has failed to protect American innovation from our greatest strategic rival: Communist China.
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A recent congressional report revealed that the Department of Defense has funded over 1,400 research projects, worth more than $2.5 billion, involving Chinese institutions with ties to the People’s Liberation Army. American taxpayers are footing the bill for Beijing’s military modernization, and every dollar that strengthens China’s hand weakens ours.
At the same time, our service members are asked to do more with less every single day. They are flying aircraft that first took to the skies decades ago, sailing ships that should have been retired, and working overtime to deter adversaries across the globe. Yet somehow, the Pentagon found billions of dollars to funnel into projects that benefit Chinese labs linked to the Communist Party.
This is not just wasteful; it is dangerous. China is our number one strategic competitor. President Xi is strengthening ties with other anti-U.S., authoritarian regimes such as Russia and Iran. Their goal is simple: leapfrog the United States militarily and economically.
The good news is there are clear steps we can take to secure America’s innovation pipeline and keep our tax dollars from funding our enemies.
First, we must end all Pentagon funding for Chinese military-linked institutions. That means a top-to-bottom audit of federally funded defense research. Schools or labs tied to Beijing’s defense sector should not receive a penny from the U.S. taxpayer.
Second, we need to tighten export controls and strengthen oversight of academic partnerships. Too many American universities have been seduced by Chinese funding, only to have their research wind up in the hands of the PLA. Transparency should be mandatory, not optional, especially when foreign money is involved in federally funded labs.
Third, we need to invest in American talent. That means doubling down on STEM scholarships for U.S. students, especially veterans and military families who understand the stakes of national security. It means creating incentives for American universities and private industry to lead the way in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics, and biotechnology.
Finally, we need to work with our allies to build a “tech shield” against China. NATO, Japan, Australia, and other partners share the same threat. If we coordinate research security and protect our intellectual property together, Beijing will find it much harder to divide and conquer.
Some will say this approach risks stifling academic freedom or politicizing science. But protecting American intellectual property is not about limiting discovery. It’s about preserving the foundation that made America great. Since the earliest days of our Republic, the Founders recognized that innovation depends on robust patent protections. Patents are more than legal constructs — they’re vital drivers of economic growth and national strength, granting inventors the protection needed to turn bright ideas into breakthroughs.
Yet while American innovators rely on a vigorous patent system — and courts that enforce it — too often, U.S. businesses see their inventions stolen in China without fair legal recourse. In America, if you steal someone’s invention, you get sued, you pay damages, and justice is served. In China, if you steal an American invention, chances are you’ll get a medal from the Communist Party. Foreign companies rarely pursue IP cases there — in fact, they make up less than 1% of filings — and even when they win, the payoff is often symbolic at best. Meanwhile, Chinese firms defending their IP overseas benefit from robust protection from U.S. courts. This imbalance must end.
History teaches us that when America leads in innovation, freedom advances. Right now, China is moving aggressively to close the gap — and, in some areas, to surpass us. Consider that between 2010 and 2020, China’s experimental development expenditures surged from just 34.5% to 63.4% of U.S. levels — meaning China is now investing nearly two-thirds as much in turning research into real-world capabilities as we are.
Congress must act to end this dangerous practice, secure our innovation base, and invest in American ingenuity. The stakes are too high for half-measures when the PLA is racing ahead in critical technologies. Our troops, our taxpayers, and our future generations deserve nothing less.
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Buy American. Innovate American. Protect Americans.
That’s how we keep the arsenal of democracy strong — and that’s how we ensure the 21st century remains the American century, not China’s. The Chinese Communist Party is betting that America won’t defend its innovation. It’s up to us to prove them wrong.
Rep. Pat Fallon serves Texas’ 4th Congressional District and is a member of the House Armed Services, Oversight and Intelligence committees.