The University of Michigan (UM) is under pressure from U.S. lawmakers to sever its Joint Institute partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, following warnings that the collaboration may be aiding China’s military development. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to UM President Santa Ono, calling for an end to the partnership to safeguard national security.
In the letter, Moolenaar pointed out that research conducted at the Joint Institute has reportedly supported China’s defense programs, such as nuclear technology, fighter jets, and military-grade anti-corrosion materials. He stressed that UM’s collaboration could jeopardize federally funded research, placing U.S. security at risk.
The institute’s work reportedly includes researchers from China’s People’s Liberation Army and is funded through U.S. taxpayer dollars and China’s 863 Program, which supports military research. Additionally, the partnership includes collaboration with CATL, a Chinese technology company with ties to defense projects and alleged forced labor practices in Xinjiang.
Concerns also surround the presence of Shanghai Jiao Tong University students on UM’s campus. These students reportedly undergo military and ideological training as part of their academic program. Moolenaar’s letter calls for UM to increase its vetting process for international students to secure the university’s research environment.
This letter follows an incident in 2023, when five Chinese students from the Joint Institute were accused of spying on Michigan’s Camp Grayling military training site. Recently, a separate Chinese UM student unrelated to the Joint Institute was charged with voter fraud, intensifying scrutiny over international partnerships.
As UM considers its next steps, Moolenaar’s letter reflects growing concerns in Congress about the security risks associated with foreign academic partnerships and the potential impact on U.S. research institutions.
