The Detroit News: Michigan lawmakers pressure three colleges to sever ties with Chinese univerisities

Federal lawmakers are pressuring three more Michigan universities to sever ties with Chinese universities amid national security concerns by GOP lawmakers.

Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University and the University of Detroit Mercy are being urged to end their schools’ partnerships with several Chinese universities by U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Lenawee County, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee.

The call for the universities to terminate their partnerships with the China-based universities was outlined in a letter sent Monday to the universities' presidents.

"The research at your university is funded by the American people and must be protected," the lawmakers wrote in letters sent to the EMU, OU and UDM.

The move follows a similar request by the lawmakers last month to the University of Michigan, which subsequently announced last month that it would begin the process to end a two decade-long joint institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. During the 20 years of the program, UM officials said 1,000 undergraduate students from UM and other universities experienced global learning opportunities that included academic exchanges such as dual-degree programs, scholarships and study-abroad opportunities.

UM made the move following a September report from the House committee arguing that federally funded researchers have helped China advance technologies in military and other applications, potentially posing a national security threat to the U.S. Soon after, Moolenaar sent a letter to UM President Santa Ono, suggesting that UM's partnership with SJTU had been compromised.

UM President Santa Ono said the decision followed discussions with lawmakers and UM stakeholders. Though the state's prestigious university would continue to pursue global partnerships as part of its academic mission, Ono added, "As we do so, we must also prioritize our commitment to national security.”

Other universities that federal lawmakers asked to end partnerships with China-based universities include the University of California, Berkeley; Georgia Technological University, a public university in Atlanta; and Alfred University, a private university located 90 miles southeast of Buffalo. All shut down their partnerships, said David Russell, spokesperson for the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Officials from Oakland University said they did not receive any requests from the lawmakers, who specifically asked OU to end joint educational programs under collaborations with Changchun University of Science and Technology, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, and Beijing Information Science and Technology University, and especially Zhengzhou University of Light Industry and Oakland University Intelligent Engineering Joint Institute in China.

"But we are continuing to examine all of our ongoing collaborations," said Kevin Corcoran, OU interim provost and interim executive vice president for academic affairs.

The letter to EMU asked for severing relations with Beibu Gulf University and Guangxi University through the Joint Engineering Program and the Information Security Joint Program in China.

EMU officials said they are reviewing the lawmakers' concerns.

"In establishing these articulation agreements, EMU complies with all federal laws including those related to information and technology transfer," said Melissa Thrasher, EMU spokesperson. "We are carefully evaluating the concerns presented and will respond to them in the immediate future."

AT UDM, the lawmakers told President Donald Taylor they were concerned about joint educational programs at four Chinese institutions including Hubei University of Technology, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, and Anhui Polytechnic University as well as the Detroit Green Technology Institute in China.

Through a university spokesperson, Taylor said he has asked UDM's senior leadership team to review the collaboration programs the university has 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," Taylor said.