U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar calls for the closure of University of Michigan’s partnership with a Chinese university linked to military advancements, citing national security risks.
University of Michigan’s Partnership Under Fire Amid Defense Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is demanding that the University of Michigan terminate its longstanding joint research institute with China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) due to concerns over the latter’s extensive role in advancing China’s defense capabilities. Moolenaar alleges that SJTU’s research bolsters China’s nuclear and defense technology, which could pose a significant security risk to the United States.
In a letter to University of Michigan President Santa Ono, Moolenaar outlined that SJTU has conducted military-aligned research ranging from nuclear weapons to advanced submarine technology, funded by the Chinese government’s defense programs. The congressman’s critique comes in the wake of a broader investigation into U.S.-China academic partnerships, which his committee says allow China to leverage American-funded research for its own military advancements.
A Pattern of National Security Concerns in U.S.-China Academic Ties
In September, Moolenaar’s committee released its findings in a report titled “CCP on the Quad: How American Taxpayers and Universities Fund the CCP’s Advanced Military and Technological Research.” The report names several prominent American universities involved in partnerships with Chinese institutions that have significant defense connections, including University of California, Berkeley and Georgia Institute of Technology. Both universities have since begun dismantling their partnerships, citing security concerns.
Moolenaar’s letter further stresses that SJTU’s partnership with the People’s Liberation Army’s Strategic Support Force involves training students in both military tactics and intelligence capabilities. He emphasized that the University of Michigan’s continued relationship with SJTU poses a potential espionage risk on campus, given the increasing number of foreign students from SJTU enrolled in sensitive research programs.
Espionage Concerns Heighten Scrutiny of University Collaboration
The urgency behind Moolenaar’s plea intensified last month when five SJTU students at the University of Michigan were charged with misleading federal investigators after allegedly trespassing at a U.S. National Guard installation. This incident underscores the concerns over espionage risks tied to international academic exchanges.
“This partnership operates as a sophisticated military-academic-intelligence nexus,” Moolenaar wrote, pointing to instances where SJTU students participate in compulsory military-style training, including ideological education aligned with China’s Communist Party.
University of Michigan Faces Growing Pressure to Reevaluate Partnership
Moolenaar’s call for action joins a broader push for universities to exercise greater vigilance over foreign academic partnerships with dual-use or defense-oriented research components. U.S. officials argue that collaborations like these allow China access to valuable intellectual property while potentially compromising U.S. security interests. Moolenaar urged the University of Michigan to “safeguard the integrity of federally funded research” and “carefully vet international students studying on U-M’s campus.”
The University of Michigan has yet to respond to these concerns publicly, but experts suggest that, like other major research institutions, it may soon face the difficult decision to either reshape or end partnerships that pose a risk to national security.
Related Developments Reflect Growing Awareness of Foreign Influence
This case is part of a larger national trend where American institutions are re-evaluating ties with Chinese universities to curb potential intellectual property theft and technological espionage risks. As awareness of these issues grows, academic partnerships are increasingly scrutinized for potential security risks, a trend that may redefine the landscape of U.S.-China academic cooperation in the coming years.
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