A new report from U.S. Reps. John Moolenar (R-MI) and Tim Walburg (R-MI) has found that partnerships between U.S. universities with institutes and academic partners in China may threaten national security.
Moolenaar, chair of the Select Committee on China, and Walburg, chair of the Committee on Education and Workforce, recently released a report that identified universities with partnerships in China that help the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) make advances in nuclear technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and quantum computing.
“American universities should never be a pipeline for the Chinese Communist Party’s military ambitions, and this report reveals alarming new details about their partnerships with CCP-controlled institutions. These collaborations empower China’s military and exploit research paid for by American taxpayers. That’s why I am working with Chairman Walberg to pass the SAFE Research Act, which will end joint institutes, and stop our tax dollars from aiding our adversaries,” Moolenaar said.
The new report builds on a report issues last fall, CCP on the Quad, that showed how American researchers, facilitate a technology transfer between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The new report provided additional findings on joint institutes and other partnerships between U.S. universities and the PRC, as well as new information on enforcement of foreign gift disclosure rules and university responses.
Joint institutes are defined by the Congressmen as entities in China that pair with American universities that are not typical academic collaborations that benefits students from both countries but instead are controlled by the CCP. The report found that the partnerships operate under PRC law, are run by Chinese-majority board and have a party presence in leadership. Additionally, the report said, the U.S. institutions in the partnership agree to PRC-imposed limits on academic freedom, speech and governance independence.
The report said since the initial report was issued, several U.S. institutions have withdrawn from or closed down the joint institutes with Chinese partners, including: the University of California, Berkeley; Georgia Institute of Technology; University of Michigan; University of Pittsburgh; Oakland University; University of Detroit Mercy; Eastern Michigan University; and University of Illinois. However, several other institutes identified as high-risk joint institutes have failed to act, including Duke University; University of Arizona; University of Delaware; Drake University; University of Houston; Kean University; University of Miami; New York University; University of North Alabama; Northeastern State University (Tahlequah); Portland State University; State University of New York – Stony Brook; and Trine University.
“I’m pleased to publish this report with Chairman Moolenaar,” Walberg said. “It highlights the ever- growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party exploiting our education system to their military advantage. No American university should be helping the Chinese Communist Party through dangerous research partnerships masquerading as purely ‘academic.’ This is why we need legislation like the DETERRENT Act and the SAFE Research Act to protect our country from malicious foreign influence.”
The SAFE Research Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House on Sept. 10. That legislation would stop federal STEM funding from going to universities or researchers that collaborate with the Chinese military and intelligence services.