Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 26: Virginia Tech has decided to accelerate the closure of a joint undergraduate programme with China’s Xidian University, which was earlier scheduled to continue until 2029, amid a Pentagon drive to scrutinise American universities’ research ties with China, according to a report.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Virginia Tech was bringing forward the programme’s termination as the Pentagon’s efforts had triggered more than 80 termination-related actions across 30 American colleges, with some institutions scaling back academic partnerships with Chinese universities.
Margaret Ashburn, Virginia Tech’s Associate Director of Media Relations and Deputy Spokesperson, shared a copy of the university’s letter to the Pentagon with the publication and confirmed that the decision to accelerate the closure had been taken recently.
“The programme noted in the letter will officially terminate after the current academic year,” Ashburn told the SCMP.
In its letter, the university said it had decided in 2025 to wind down the programme and had stopped admitting new students. Those already enrolled were, however, allowed to continue until 2029.
The letter also outlined measures taken to address security concerns ahead of the programme’s complete shutdown, including research security briefings for faculty members before and after their visits to Xidian University.
The university clarified that recent joint publications with Shandong University, which was added to the US blacklist in July, resulted from earlier research. It said active collaboration with the institution had ended in 2019.
The impact of the early closure on students currently enrolled in the programme remains unclear, the report said.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington accused the US of politicising scientific research and education, arguing that security restrictions undermined bilateral exchanges and ran counter to global scientific cooperation.
“China urges the US to stop making groundless vilification against Chinese research institutions,” an embassy spokesperson said, according to the report.
In August, the US Department of Defence directed 30 universities to audit their foreign research ties, including partnerships with Chinese institutions on its blacklist, formally known as the Section 1286 list. The institutions were warned that they risked losing federal funding if they failed to address the concerns.
On Monday, the Pentagon said the 30 universities had completed their initial audits and addressed relationships identified as potential security risks. It named seven institutions, including Virginia Tech, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Southern California, for taking swift action.
“The department commends the institutions that took decisive action to mitigate relationships that could expose American research to foreign exploitation,” Under Secretary of Defence for Research and Engineering Emil Michael said.