Chinese researcher’s death after questioning in US prompts anger in Beijing

Following the tragic death of a Chinese semiconductor researcher in the United States, China has urged US authorities to launch a thorough inquiry. The researcher, identified as Danhao Wang from the University of Michigan, was discovered deceased after being subjected to “hostile questioning” by law enforcement officials. CBS News reported that Wang’s death occurred shortly after an exchange with federal investigators.

The University of Michigan released a statement indicating it was examining “potential self-inflicted harm” after Wang fell from a campus building on 19 March. Liu Pengyu, a representative of the Chinese Embassy in the US, expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident to the BBC on Thursday. He highlighted that China had “repeatedly raised formal concerns with US government bodies and academic institutions” concerning the matter, and had reached out to the family for “support in managing the aftermath.”

“We urge the US to conduct a comprehensive investigation and provide a responsible explanation to both the family and Chinese authorities,” said Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, during a Wednesday BBC interview. She emphasized that China would “continue to take necessary steps to safeguard the rights and interests of its citizens.”

Wang, who worked as an assistant research scientist in electrical and computer engineering, specialized in semiconductor technology. The Chinese foreign ministry first addressed the incident on 27 March, stating that a scholar had “taken their own life following hostile interrogation by US law enforcement.” This action, they claimed, “seriously infringes on the lawful rights of Chinese citizens, strains intercultural exchanges, and amplifies the chilling impact on academic collaboration.”

The death has intensified scrutiny on the treatment of Chinese academics in the US amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Earlier this year, the family of Jane Wu, a Chinese-American neuroscientist at Northwestern University, filed a lawsuit against the institution, alleging that it had mishandled her case during a multi-year federal probe into her connections with China. This incident reflects a broader pattern of US vigilance against Chinese students, particularly in light of national security concerns.

In 2020, during Donald Trump’s presidency, an executive order restricted visas for Chinese students and researchers with suspected military affiliations. Last year, the Trump administration pledged to “aggressively” cancel visas for individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in strategic fields. However, months later, the US reversed course, granting 600,000 student visas as trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing progressed.

Additional reporting by Stephen McDonell in Beijing