A Michigan Republican has called on the University of Michigan to break ties with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a Chinese institution, alleging potential risks to research integrity and ties to the Chinese military, according to a copy of the letter that U.S. Representative John Moolenaar sent to UM president Santa Ono.
“In a recently published report, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party … identified significant risks to the integrity of the U.S. academic research enterprise emanating from the [People’s Republic of China], and documented numerous cases in which PRC defense affiliated institutions leveraged the expertise and capabilities of American researchers—often developed with federal research funding—to enable the PRC to achieve significant technological advancements in critical and emerging technologies with defense applications,” Moolenaar wrote in the Oct. 31 letter.
He also referenced a 2023 incident in which five Chinese nationals—then UM students—allegedly photographed a training exercise conducted by the Michigan Army National Guard. All five, who have since graduated, were charged last month with conspiracy, making false statements and destroying records in a federal countersurveillance investigation, according to an FBI complaint.
All reportedly attended UM via a joint program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
“Given these concerning developments, I strongly encourage you to shutter the partnership between U-M and Shanghai Jiao Tong and take the necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of federally funded research at U-M and carefully vet international students studying on U-M’s Campus,” Moolenaar wrote.
Michigan officials told MLive last week that they were reviewing the congressman’s letter.
