East Michigan News

Rep. John Moolenaar, currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Michigan’s 2nd district, recently expressed concerns through a series of tweets regarding collaborations between American educational institutions and Chinese entities. The congressman highlighted potential risks to taxpayer-funded research and national security.

In a tweet dated February 20, 2025, Moolenaar shared that he and Rep. Tim Walberg had written letters as chairmen of the Education and Workforce Committee and the China Competition Policy Committee. They detailed concerns about "how the Chinese institutions involved have close ties to the Chinese military" and how such partnerships could jeopardize "taxpayer-funded research." "In the letters @RepWalberg and I wrote as the chairmen of @EdWorkforceCmte and @committeeonccp, we detailed how the Chinese institutions involved have close ties to the Chinese military and how the joint institutes put taxpayer-funded research at risk."

Another tweet from Moolenaar on February 20, 2025, pointed out that Eastern Michigan University's GameAbove College receives federal funding for cybersecurity programs while also sending faculty to China to train students there. He noted that this occurs amidst "unprecedented cyberattacks from the CCP," suggesting that such collaboration should cease: @EasternMichU’s GameAbove College receives federal funding for cybersecurity programs. At the same time, the college sends faculty to China to train Chinese students. Our nation faces unprecedented cyberattacks from the CCP. This collaboration must end.

Additionally, Moolenaar raised issues about Eastern Michigan University partnering with Beibu Gulf University, which he described as an institution that trains reserve forces for China's military: @EasternMichU @EasternMichU also partners with Beibu Gulf University, an institution that trains wartime reserve forces for the Chinese military. This is not an institution an American university should be partnering with.