Oren Cass has become (Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images)
In the same essay, Cass and his co-author argued that China’s influence extended deep into U.S. research and policy institutions.
"China has long targeted U.S. universities, think tanks and research institutes to extract economic gain and advance its own ideological agenda," they wrote, adding that such organizations "must accept processes and controls designed to ensure the integrity and security of their work."
They went further, calling for legal restrictions. "U.S. law should be changed to prohibit these institutions from entering into any partnerships with China-based and affiliated entities. Any funding flowing from one nation's institutions to the other's must be stopped."
Lawmakers from both parties have long raised concerns that the Chinese government exploits educational exchanges, research partnerships and business investments in the U.S. as cover for espionage activities. These warnings have intensified in recent years amid growing scrutiny of Beijing’s influence operations on U.S. soil.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives to speak during the American Compass Fifth Anniversary Gala alongside American Compass founder and Chief Economist Oren Cass (L) at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
China is the world’s second-largest economy and a key trading partner for U.S. companies, making such financial entanglements common across Washington’s policy landscape.
Fox News Digital reached out to Qualcomm, BlackRock and Google for comment; none responded before publication.
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What's more, American Compass’s staffing and advisory relationships have also prompted questions. The organization’s director of events and operations previously worked for Alibaba Group, one of China’s largest tech companies.
Additionally, an economist on the group’s advisory board is also a professor at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management, a leading business institution with close ties to China's Communist Party.
Cass and American Compass did not return multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
While none of these associations are illegal or unusual in Washington, they complicate Cass’ image as a champion of economic separation from China and highlight the difficulty of pursuing that ideal while relying on corporate sponsors.
Amanda covers the intersection of business and geopolitics for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/think-tank-founder-faces-scrutiny-over-china-corporate-ties-despite-decoupling-advocacy