Congressman calls CT university partnership in China a U.S. ‘security’ risk. He asks for it to be cancelled – courant.com

Congressman calls CT university partnership in China a U.S. ‘security’ risk. He asks for it to be cancelled  courant.com

Moolenaar said the academic partnership is “particularly concerning” because of the role UNH has played in supporting U.S. cybersecurity education The chairman of a U.S. House committee created to track economic and security competition with China is asking the University of New Haven to withdraw from a cooperative program with a Chinese school because of concern the agreement and accompanying research exchange puts American secrets at risk. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican and chairman of the Select Committee on China, laid out in a comprehensive letter what he claims are risks associated with the UNH decision last year to open a common campus in China with the Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications (XUPT), a school aligned with China’s military, security and industrial establishments.

“The specific institution UNH has chosen as its partner presents too great a risk for the exploitation and diversion of American human and intellectual capital,” Moolenaar wrote. “U.S. universities should not support, conduct research with, or use federal research dollars to sustain institutional partnerships with foreign universities that maintain extensive relationships with Chinese military and defense entities.” Asked about the security concerns, a UNH spokesman said Friday, “The University has received Chairman Moolenaar’s letter. University leaders are carefully reviewing its contents.” The 8-page letter to UNH president Jens Frederiksen, dated Thursday, is signed by