Virginia Tech is accelerating the closure of its joint undergraduate programme with China’s Xidian University amid Pentagon scrutiny of US universities’ foreign research ties. The move reflects growing national security concerns and tensions over US-China academic cooperation.
Virginia Tech has decided to accelerate the closure of its joint undergraduate programme with China’s Xidian University, bringing forward a shutdown that was previously scheduled for 2029. The decision comes amid growing scrutiny by the US Department of Defence of American universities’ research partnerships with Chinese institutions over national security concerns.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Virginia Tech is among the American universities reviewing or ending academic relationships with Chinese institutions as the Pentagon intensifies efforts to assess potential security risks associated with foreign research collaborations.
Margaret Ashburn, Virginia Tech’s Associate Director of Media Relations and Deputy Spokesperson, provided the publication with a copy of the university’s letter to the Pentagon. She confirmed that the decision to accelerate the programme’s 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, Virginia Tech explained that it had decided in 2025 to wind down the joint programme with Xidian University and had already stopped admitting new students. However, students who were enrolled before the admissions closure had initially been allowed to complete their studies under the existing arrangement until 2029.
The university’s latest decision brings that timeline forward, although the impact on students currently enrolled in the programme remains unclear. The report did not provide further details about alternative arrangements for affected students or how their academic progress would be accommodated.
Virginia Tech also outlined measures taken to address research security concerns before the programme’s full termination. These included security briefings for faculty members before and after their visits to Xidian University, reflecting increased attention to the risks associated with international academic exchanges.
The university’s letter also addressed recent joint publications involving Shandong University, which was added to a US blacklist in July. Virginia Tech clarified that the publications resulted from earlier research and that active collaboration with the Chinese institution had ended in 2019.
The developments come as the Pentagon expands its review of foreign research relationships at American universities. In August, the US Department of Defence directed 30 universities to audit their foreign research ties, including partnerships with Chinese institutions appearing on its Section 1286 list. Institutions were warned that failure to address identified risks could jeopardise federal funding.
On Monday, the Pentagon said all 30 universities had completed their initial audits and addressed relationships identified as potential security risks. The department also recognised seven institutions, including Virginia Tech, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Southern California, for taking swift action.
Under Secretary of Defence for Research and Engineering Emil Michael praised the universities for responding to the review.
“The department commends the institutions that took decisive action to mitigate relationships that could expose American research to foreign exploitation,” Michael said.
The Pentagon’s initiative reflects Washington’s concerns that sensitive research, advanced technologies and scientific expertise could be exposed to foreign exploitation through certain international partnerships. Universities are therefore facing increased pressure to evaluate collaborations, strengthen research safeguards and ensure compliance with government requirements.
However, the move has drawn criticism from Beijing. The Chinese Embassy in Washington accused the United States of politicising scientific research and education, arguing that restrictions on academic cooperation undermine bilateral exchanges and conflict with the broader goals of international scientific collaboration.
“China urges the US to stop making groundless vilification against Chinese research institutions,” an embassy spokesperson said, according to the SCMP report.
The dispute highlights the growing tension between national security priorities and international academic cooperation. While US authorities argue that closer scrutiny is necessary to protect sensitive research, Chinese officials maintain that such measures risk damaging legitimate educational and scientific exchanges.
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Virginia Tech’s accelerated programme closure is part of a wider reassessment of academic partnerships involving American and Chinese institutions. With the Pentagon continuing to monitor universities’ compliance with research security requirements, further changes to international collaborations may follow.
For students enrolled in the Virginia Tech-Xidian University programme, the immediate concern remains how the earlier termination will affect their studies, degree completion and future academic opportunities. The university’s next steps will be important in determining how the closure is implemented while addressing the security concerns raised by US authorities.
