China 'recruits as many as 600 top scholars and scientists in Australia' - sounding alarm bells that Beijing could be using them to get clandestine access to the latest technology

Hundreds of scientists and academics at Australian universities have been recruited by the Chinese Communist Party as part of Beijing's push to become the dominant global power by 2050, a new report claims.

A new submission to a parliamentary inquiry warned the authoritarian state has offered lucrative pay packets to at least 325 people at Australian universities as part of China's Thousand Talents Plan.

Alex Joske, the author of the report, said the real number is likely to be much higher and could be associated with up to $280 million in grant fraud - as China looks for clandestine access to the latest technology and other sensitive information.

Hundreds of scientists and academics at Australian universities have been recruited by the Chinese Communist Party (students pictured in Melbourne)

'Combined with the possible extent of grant fraud and other forms of misconduct associated with this activity, it is really an alarming issue,' the China expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told The Australian.

He said the cases identified in the report only represent a fraction of what is likely to be the extent of Chinese influence at Australian universities and that the real number could be in excess of 600.

In the submission to the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Mr Joske detailed how the Chinese program requires academics to share their research with Chinese authorites.

There were 59 instances where Australian university academics ­received fellowships worth anywhere from $1million to $3million by the Australian Research Council at the same time they were part of the Chinese scheme.

In one case University of Queensland professor George Zhao was the head of multi-million dollar Chinese battery company Qingdao while taking in $3.9million in grants from the ARC.

Mr Zhao has denied he did anything wrong or gained any financial advantage.

Another professor, Brad Yu Changbin, worked on Australian defence-funded drone projects as he was being trained as a scientist in the Chinese military.

In the submission to the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Mr Joske detailed how the Chinese program requires academics to share their research with Chinese authorities (stock image)

Beijing's strategic plan was first established in 2008 under Hu Jintao and is now overseen by his successor President Xi Jingping.

But Western democracies targeted by the program are now becoming more attuned to the underhanded tactics of the rogue regime.

'The Chinese government tries to entice scientists to secretly bring our knowledge and innovation back to China - even if that means stealing proprietary information or violating our export controls and conflict-of-interest rules,' FBI Director Christopher Wray said in July last year.

'Take the case of scientist Hongjin Tan, for example, a Chinese national and American lawful permanent resident. 

Cases identified in the report only represent a fraction of what is likely to be the extent of Chinese influence at Australian universities and that the real number could be as in excess of 600, Mr Joske said (stock image, University of Sydney)

'He applied to China's Thousand Talents Program and stole more than US$1billion - that's with a 'b' - worth of trade secrets from his former employer, an Oklahoma-based petroleum company, and got caught.

'A few months ago, he was convicted and sent to prison.'

The findings of the parliamentary inquiry into the national security risks facing Australian universities, is set to be handed down in July.

The ARC said it was unaware of the issues raised in the report but said the council expects the 'highest standards of integrity in all aspects of research funds'.

It added that all universities have obligations to ensure that appropriate due diligence is undertaken.

The findings of the parliamentary inquiry into the national security risks facing Australian universities, is set to be handed down in July. Pictured students at Melbourne University