WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a move highlighting growing national security concerns surrounding academic partnerships with China, House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) today called on Duke University President Vincent Price to shutter Duke Kunshan University (DKU) in China.
The bipartisan lawmakers issued a strongly worded letter, asserting that DKU, established in 2018 through a partnership with Chinese entities, has become a conduit for the CCP to access sensitive U.S. technology and exploit American students for propaganda purposes.
READ: State Prosecutor Joins National Fight Against Sadistic ‘764’ Pedophile Cult
“Through its partnership with Chinese entities, DKU enabled the CCP to access sensitive U.S. technology, including Department of Defense-funded research into advanced camera systems—now used to surveil Tiananmen Square and track millions of people across China,” the Congressmen stated in their letter. They further emphasized that the university’s website showcases imagery of DKU students participating in military-style training, raising serious questions about research security and academic freedom.
Walberg and Moolenaar specifically highlighted DKU’s focus on high-technology fields with direct military applications, such as data science, artificial intelligence, and materials science. They warned that the presence of DKU students at Duke University provides a “direct pipeline between U.S. innovation and China’s military-industrial complex,” given the CCP’s well-documented efforts to exploit academic openness.
The letter also detailed disturbing instances of American students being used for CCP propaganda. Citing an article by Duke student Jacqueline Cole, the lawmakers pointed out how students were allegedly coached to recite pro-China slogans and pressured to echo specific narratives on Chinese climate policies. Students reportedly felt “used” as part of a “traveling circus” for state media, a practice the Congressmen labeled as “exploitation” rather than genuine cultural exchange, directly facilitating the CCP’s propaganda initiatives.
The partnership between Duke and Wuhan University is a key point of concern. Wuhan University, DKU’s Chinese partner, reportedly conducts research in multiple defense-related areas, trains cyber warfare specialists for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and plays a crucial role in China’s Beidou satellite system, which has military applications including missile guidance.
READ: Doc Who Revived Zombie Virus From Frozen Corpse Now Has Keys To Fauci’s Old Agency
This call to action follows a September 2024 report by the Education and Workforce Committee and the Select Committee on China, which identified 21 American universities with STEM-focused joint institutes in China, raising similar concerns about the transfer of sensitive technology. Notably, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and Oakland University have already terminated their joint institutes following the report.
Walberg and Moolenaar’s demand underscores the escalating scrutiny of U.S.-China academic collaborations and the growing apprehension within Congress regarding potential national security risks and the exploitation of American students. The pressure is now on Duke University to respond to these serious allegations and consider the future of its China-based campus.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
