Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official U.S. House headshot
The University of Michigan has decided to terminate its joint institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). This decision follows a letter from Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to U-M President Santa Ono. The letter highlighted connections between SJTU and China's military modernization efforts.
Moolenaar stated, "The University of Michigan is making the right decision in ending its joint institute with a Chinese university, and more of our nation’s universities should follow U-M’s action. My committee has put a spotlight on the fact that too many American universities are collaborating with CCP researchers on critical technologies including weapons, artificial intelligence, and nuclear physics. The results of these collaborations could one day be turned against our country, and we cannot allow that to happen."
Concerns were raised after five Chinese nationals were charged in federal court in Detroit for lying to investigators following their trespassing at Camp Grayling, a military site in Michigan. These individuals had come to Michigan through the joint institute partnership between U-M and SJTU. Previously, two Chinese nationals attending U-M were arrested for spying on a military installation in Key West.
Moolenaar's letter detailed how SJTU contributes significantly to China's defense programs due to "military-academic integration." It also noted that various talent recruitment programs at the Joint Institute often require participants to pledge allegiance to the CCP.
U-M is now the third American university in recent months to end such partnerships after national security concerns were raised by the Committee. Georgia Tech recently ended its Shenzhen Joint Institute, and UC Berkeley is closing its partnership with Tsinghua University.
A report titled “CCP on the Quad” released last September by the Select Committee listed 21 American universities with STEM-focused joint institutes involving Chinese universities. The report identified concerns about research funded by the Defense Department potentially aiding China's national security efforts.
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