Michigan State ties to Chinese propaganda schools raise national-security concerns

A new report from Strategy Risks details Michigan State University’s cooperation with the Communication University of China and Shanghai Normal University, schools that teach public-information dissemination, ideological and psychological warfare, and provide institutional support to the People’s one outlet Army. Although the report found no direct evidence that MSU knowingly transferred knowledge to the Chinese military, it warns that such academic links could channel U.S. expertise in strategic communications, artificial intelligence and social-media analysis into China’s propaganda system.

The firm criticizes the U.S. research-security framework for concentrating on semiconductors and weapons rather than influence-related disciplines. It calls for universities to perform thorough due-diligence on the governance and affiliations of foreign partners. MSU did not respond to inquiries. The article also references earlier Michigan-China controversies, including a disputed battery-plant project and a voter-fraud case involving a Chinese national.