US Department of Defense pressures universities over China research ties

The US Department of Defense has directed 30 universities to review their partnerships with foreign institutions, specifically targeting entities listed under Section 1286 of the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act. The Pentagon aims to mitigate risks to US research and national security, using federal research funding as leverage.

While the Department of Defense announced that all 30 universities have either terminated relevant ties or eliminated risks through over 80 actions, several institutions noted that many of the scrutinized collaborations did not involve sensitive technology or military-funded research. For example, Drake University plans to continue a joint undergraduate program with Qingdao University, noting the partnership does not involve defense contracts or restricted research.

Several universities, including Oklahoma State, Pennsylvania State, and the University of Texas at Austin, proactively terminated agreements with Chinese institutions such as Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University to mitigate potential risks. The Department of Defense has signaled it will continue to monitor international research collaborations and may withhold taxpayer funding from institutions whose partnerships jeopardize US technological advantages.