University of Michigan Ends Partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University

A significant shift in academia is taking place as the University of Michigan has decided to terminate its collaboration with a prominent university in China. This decision follows the recent indictment of five Chinese students involved in the joint program, accused of engaging in questionable activities near a military location.

Santa Ono, the University of Michigan’s president, conveyed this decision in a letter to a congressman, explaining that a comprehensive evaluation led to the initiation of a six-month process to formally conclude the partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.

Ono emphasized the importance of international academic collaborations but assured that national security concerns are paramount. The university plans to enhance scrutiny of visa processes for international students moving forward.

This development is part of a broader trend among American universities distancing themselves from Chinese institutions, driven by concerns from U.S. lawmakers about the potential for aiding China’s military advancements through technology development. Notably, institutions like the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley, have also decided to sever ties with Chinese partners.

In Michigan, Rep. John Moolenaar, who heads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, urged Ono to end the joint program. This request came after the charges against the Chinese students, who were apprehended in August 2023 near Camp Grayling during nighttime military exercises.

The students involved have reportedly left the United States and have not faced court proceedings. Moolenaar’s letter highlighted the Chinese university’s focus on military-related research and training, which allegedly supports China’s military modernization efforts. Ono confirmed the decision to end the partnership with Moolenaar on Friday.

Previously, in 2020, two Chinese nationals studying at the University of Michigan faced imprisonment for taking unauthorized photographs at a U.S. naval air station. More recently, in October, a Chinese student from the university was charged with illegal voting during early voting, marking a rare incident of a non-citizen participating in U.S. elections.

It is noteworthy that the University of Michigan holds the broadcast license for Michigan Public.