Last month, a congressional report from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce identified Northern Arizona University’s (NAU) partnership with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CQUPT) as a potential national security risk.
Rep. Eli Crane, who represents Arizona’s 2nd district in Congress and serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, responded to the report by sending a letter to NAU urging a review and termination of its partnership with CQUPT. The report stated that many collaborations between American and Chinese universities have been used by the Chinese Communist Party to advance military and technological objectives, recommending immediate termination of such partnerships.
Following an internal review, NAU has decided to end its 3+1 dual-degree program in Electrical Engineering with CQUPT. The university has stopped recruiting students for this program, begun winding it down, and started contract termination talks, aiming for complete withdrawal within 90 days.
Rep. Crane commented: “I applaud Northern Arizona University’s leadership in reviewing its international partnerships and ensuring that its programs align with national security initiatives. NAU’s actions reflect a responsible approach to protecting students, faculty, and the integrity of U.S. research and education. We greatly appreciate their commitment to these shared values, as well as all they do for Northern Arizona.”
Eli Crane has served as U.S. Representative for Arizona’s 2nd District since 2023 after succeeding Tom O’Halleran. He was born in Tucson in 1980 and currently resides in Oro Valley.
