The University of Michigan announced it is ending its nearly 20-year partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in China, citing national security concerns raised by recent events and congressional warnings.
The decision follows an October 2024 letter from Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. In his letter, Moolenaar warned University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono about the risks of partnering with SJTU.
Moolenaar’s letter follows an incident involving five Chinese nationals studying at the University of Michigan through the Joint Institute, a collaborative program with SJTU. The students were charged with concealing an unauthorized visit to Camp Grayling, a military facility in the state.
“Shanghai Jiao Tong plays a critical role in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military-civil fusion strategy,” Moolenaar wrote in the letter. “Through its extensive military-aligned departments and laboratories, advanced dual-use research programs, and large-scale operational training platforms, Shanghai Jiao Tong drives the PRC’s military modernization and intelligence capabilities. For example, the university is currently home to several national-level laboratories, including three defense-related laboratories. This military-academic integration enables Shanghai Jiao Tong to make significant contributions to the PRC’s most sensitive defense programs, including nuclear weapons, carrier rockets, satellites, nuclear submarines, and fighter jets.”
“Research performed at the Joint Institute advances the PRC’s defense and intelligence capabilities,” he continued. “For example, Institute researchers have helped the PRC achieve advancements in defense technologies from propellant combustion modeling and solid rocket fuel research to anti-corrosion technology for military aircraft developed with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) researchers. They have worked on projects to improve CT imaging technology for detecting flaws in advanced military equipment, which appears to have leveraged Department of Defense- funded research from University of Michigan faculty.”
In response to the concerns, President Ono emphasized the university’s commitment to balancing international collaboration with national security.
“International academic partnerships have deeply enriched our academic offerings and strengthened the global education of our students, and we will continue to pursue partnerships around the world as part of our academic mission,” Ono said in a statement. “As we do so, we must also prioritize our commitment to national security.”
“International experiences are vital for our students in this interconnected world,” he added. “We remain committed to supporting U-M’s international students and will continue to foster international partnerships that advance knowledge and cross-cultural understanding and ensure our campus remains a vibrant community where scholars from around the world can thrive.”
