Congressional scrutiny over international academic collaborations intensifies as two Republican lawmakers urge Michigan universities to reconsider their partnerships with Chinese institutions. This recent move highlights growing concerns about national security and the protection of American technological advancements.
Republican Representatives John Moolenaar and Tim Walberg have addressed letters to Oakland University, Eastern Michigan University, and the University of Detroit-Mercy, urging them to terminate joint research projects with Chinese universities. These collaborations, according to the lawmakers, may pose risks to U.S. security interests.
In their correspondence, the Congressmen assert, “The research at your university is funded by the American people and must be protected. The PRC (People’s Republic of China) systematically exploits the open research environment in the United States, actively engaging in theft, espionage, and other hostile actions against U.S. universities perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). We urge you to terminate these partnerships in light of the facts below.”
The letters reference a September 2024 Congressional committee report, which highlights instances where American research, underpinned by federal funding, has inadvertently supported China’s technological advancements. The report contends that collaborative programs between U.S. and Chinese academic institutions serve as conduits for transferring sensitive technologies to China, bolstering its defense and military capabilities.
The lawmakers emphasize that the Michigan universities’ partnerships involve sensitive research areas with potential national security implications. They also point out connections between these Chinese institutions and the country’s government and military sectors.
Moolenaar and Walberg suggest that these universities follow the example of other institutions, like the University of Michigan, which have already started dissolving similar collaborations. “The security of American technological advantages cannot be compromised,” the letters emphasize, urging an end to these partnerships to safeguard U.S. research and taxpayer investments.
In response, an Oakland University spokesperson acknowledged receipt of the letter but noted that the university is still reviewing its contents. Eastern Michigan University stated its compliance with federal laws on technology transfer and expressed its intent to address the concerns raised. University of Detroit-Mercy President Donald Taylor affirmed, “After my recent visits to Capitol Hill as part of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities’ Advocacy Day, and hearing from Rep. Moolenaar about the concerns outlined in a letter we received from him and Rep. Walberg on Feb. 18, I have asked the University’s senior leadership team to review our collaboration programs we have with four Chinese Universities. Soon we will notify both Rep. Moolenaar, Rep. Walberg, and their staffs about UDM plans for its partnerships with Chinese institutions.”
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