Pentagon expands blacklist to include China’s top civilian universities

The Pentagon has expanded its national security blacklist to include two of China's most prestigious civilian universities: Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This move signifies a widening of Washington's efforts to curb perceived Chinese influence and technology transfer within American research. Previously, the list primarily comprised institutions closely tied to China's military or defense industry. The inclusion of these prominent academic institutions could impact a broader range of scientific partnerships. The updated list, known as the Section 1286 list, now identifies 88 institutions in mainland China. Researchers funded by the US Department of Defense will be prohibited from collaborating with these institutions or utilizing their equipment, with these restrictions set to begin in the 2026 fiscal year. The Pentagon stated that these institutions have engaged in activities that increase the risk of US government-funded research and development being "misappropriated," potentially enabling interference by adversarial governments and threatening US national security and scientific integrity. The department did not provide specific evidence against individual universities but noted that the identified institutions pose risks including the transfer of sensitive technology, links to foreign military or intelligence bodies, and participation in state-backed talent recruitment programs.