Xi'an Jiaotong University

Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) is designated high risk for its moderately high number of defence laboratories and inclusion on the US Government’s Unverified List.

XJTU is subordinate to the Ministry of Education. It is also supervised by SASTIND as part of a program to develop defense research capabilities within Chinese universities.https://web.archive.org/web/20181002203241/http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1004/97388.htm The university describes its strategy as being ‘based in Shaanxi, geared toward the needs of the nation, and serving the national defense industry.’

The university is advanced in its implementation of military-civil fusion and has established strategic partnerships with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and the Aero Engine Corporation of China.https://web.archive.org/web/20190425090250/http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1004/97388.htm It holds secret-level security credentials, allowing it to participate in classified defence technology projects.https://web.archive.org/web/20190425061714/http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1002/97092.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191111061115/http://xhnet.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1002/78503.htm

Major defence laboratories

• Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Aircraft Engine XXXX (航空发动机XXXX教育部重点实验室（B类))http://archive.ph/2019.11.11-062114/http://std.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1007/31510.htm
  • May be the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Aircraft Engine Health Management (航空发动机健康管理教育部重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20191111063505/http:/www.xjtu.edu.cn/xynr.jsp?urltype=tree.TreeTempUrl&wbtreeid=1634&wbxjtucollegeid=681
• Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials and Structures (多功能材料与结构教育部重点实验室（B类))https://web.archive.org/web/20190625021815/https://www.antpedia.com/labs/2171/
• Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Special Electrical Technology (特种电气技术教育部重点实验室（B类))
  • The lab is hosted by the School of Electrical Engineering, which is specifically included on the US Government Unverified List
  • May be part of the Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Ministry of Education (电子陶瓷与器件教育部重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20190309221844/http://emrl.xjtu.edu.cn/sysgk1/jybzdsys.htm ； https://web.archive.org/web/20190926020640/http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1033/78718.htm

Designated defence research areas

The total number of designated defence research areas at XJTU is unknown. Nuclear energy science and engineering is the only defence discipline at the university that has been identified.https://web.archive.org/web/20191111091823/http://www.xjtu.edu.cn/xynr.jsp?urltype=tree.TreeTempUrl&wbtreeid=1029 XJTU’s Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering is responsible for at least one unspecified defence discipline.https://web.archive.org/web/20190906014153/http://cms1.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1040/7184.htm The fields covered by XJTU’s defence laboratories indicate that materials science, aeronautical and astronautical science and technology, and electrical engineering have probably been designated as defence disciplines.

Economic espionage and misconduct

In 2017, the PLA entered a partnership with Xi’an Jiaotong University that may be linked to cyberespionage efforts. The university is a known recruiting ground for PLA hackers.https://www.recordedfuture.com/podcast-episode-70/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20160430161322/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/02/28/china-universities-cyber/1954205/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20190906013209/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/099b/c3673ebe2f402f0aa0f2e2274d9f11bb2ed6.pdf

Defence and security links

In 2019, Xi’an Jiaotong University and the PLA Strategic Support Force Aerospace Engineering University signed a cooperation agreement for research and training.https://web.archive.org/web/20191111231428/http:/news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1002/111642.htm

In 2013, Xi’an Jiaotong University won five national science and technology awards. One of the technology innovation awards was for the School of Mechanical Engineering’s three-dimensional full-field dynamic deformation detection technology for complex conditions.  Products from this project have been promoted to military enterprises as well as applied to military research enterprises such as China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE, 中国飞行试验研究院), Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (成都飞机设计研究所), and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC, 中国船舶重工集团公司).Also written as 中航工业试飞中心, 试飞院 or 试飞中心, which is a research institute for AVIC https://web.archive.org/web/20160720195343/http://fas.org/nuke/guide/china/contractor/avic.htm; https://web.archive.org/web/20181222012339/http://www.cfgac.com/about.php?cat_id=1487 ; http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1004/40966.htm

Xi’an Jiaotong University participated in the Second Exhibition of High-Tech Achievements in Military-Civilian Fusion Development, which was sponsored by the Equipment Development Department, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and others in 2016.https://web.archive.org/web/20161117021547/http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1033/70938.htm The university also entered into a strategic co-operation memorandum with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) in April 2019 to work on 3D printing technology.https://web.archive.org/web/20191111234353/http:/news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1033/111059.htm In October 2019, Xi’an Jiaotong University also entered into a strategic co-operation memorandum with the China Nuclear Power Engineering Company (CNEP, 中国核电工程有限公司).https://web.archive.org/web/20191111234633/http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/content.jsp?urltype=news.NewsContentUrl&wbtreeid=1050&wbnewsid=122207 However, details remain unclear about what the collaboration may entail.

In April 2019, Xi’an Jiaotong University established the High-End Equipment Research Institute (西安交大高端装备研究院) as part of its implementation of military-civil fusion.https://web.archive.org/web/20191111235742/http:/news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1014/110649.htm The institute also formed’International Machinery Centre’ (国际机械中心), ‘attracting for  high-level foreign researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, amongst others.’https://web.archive.org/web/20191111235742/http:/news.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1014/110649.htm The centre’s key areas of research include big data, bionic mechanical system design and manufacturing along with smart manufacturing and nano-energy high-end equipment.http://archive.ph/I2wtW#selection-1737.45-1737.54

While not dedicated defence laboratories, the following laboratories at XJTU may be involved in defence research:

• Ministry of Education Key Lab for Intelligent Networks and Network Security (智能网络与网络安全教育部重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20181016002016/http://nskeylab.xjtu.edu.cn/site/lab/intro/
• State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (动力工程多相流国家重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20181005102436/http://mfpe.xjtu.edu.cn/dwgk/sysgk.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191112002020/http:/mfpe.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1030/2300.htm
  • Promotes national defense and has received National Defense Science and Technology awardshttp://mfpe.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1030/2300.htm
• Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education (电子陶瓷与器件教育部重点实验室, known as the National Specialist Laboratory for Fine Functional Electronic Materials and Devices [精细功能电子材料与器件国家专业实验室]  before 2000)https://web.archive.org/web/20181018102956/http://emrl.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1003/1311.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191112015447/http://www.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1158/5988.htm
• State Key Laboratory of Metallic Materials Strength (金属材料强度国家重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20171121050210/http://std.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1028/27387.htm
  • Has worked on 15 national defense projectshttps://web.archive.org/web/20151230221836/http://www.baike.com/wiki/%E9%87%91%E5%B1%9E%E6%9D%90%E6%96%99%E5%BC%BA%E5%BA%A6%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E9%87%8D%E7%82%B9%E5%AE%9E%E9%AA%8C%E5%AE%A4 ; https://web.archive.org/web/20171008184251/http://www.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1169/6010
• State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation for Power Equipment (电力设备电气绝缘国家重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20171122053402/http://std.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1028/27388.htm
  • Involved in research for high-tech weapons using technologies such as pulsed powerhttp://archive.ph/2019.11.12-005429/http://202.117.3.86/xajdb/20170707/html/page_03_content_002.htm
• State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Structural Strength and Vibration (机械结构强度与振动国家重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20171122121504/http://std.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1028/27385.htm
• Shaanxi Key Lab of Satellite-Terrestrial Network Tech (陕西省天地网技术重点实验室)https://web.archive.org/web/20180809085725/http://labs.xjtudlc.com/labs/index.html
  • Has undertaken project funded by the National Defence 863 Programhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150516084958/http://labs.xjtudlc.com/labs/about.html
• State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering (机械制造系统工程国家重点实验室)http://archive.ph/QAlGX ; https://web.archive.org/web/20171122060906/http:/std.xjtu.edu.cn/info/1028/27389.htm
  • Currently has two researchers working with the Aero-space Engine & Smart Manufacturing Institute Co., Ltd.,http://archive.ph/2019.11.12-011020/http://www.xianaesm.com/a/team/yanfatuandui/ which is part of China’s military-civil-fusion program.http://archive.ph/2019.11.12-011823/http://www.xianaesm.com/a/about/qiyejianjie/

Noteworthy international collaborations

Xi’an Jiaotong University is the president of the executive council for the University Alliance of the Silk Road, an organization aimed at promoting international exchanges of talent education and scientific research between the 151 member universities from 38 countries and regions.http://uasr.xjtu.edu.cn/About_UASR/Introduction.htm The university also provides funding for the University Alliance of the Silk Road.https://web.archive.org/web/20190101055925/http://uasr.xjtu.edu.cn/About_UASR/Organizations.htm

In 2005, XJTU signed a research and development cooperation agreement with U.S. company Honeywell.https://web.archive.org/web/20191112020922/http:/finance.sina.com.cn/stock/usstock/mtszx/20141112/162020798643.shtml

XJTU previously had a cooperation agreement with Texas A&M University’s Nuclear Engineering Department; however, this partnership no longer exists.http://archive.ph/2019.11.12-022212/http://www.xjqd.sd.cn/news/xwkx/sheji_news_55.html XJTU has also had similar collaborations with University of Wisconsin-Madison, KIT in Germany, and Fukui University in Japan.https://web.archive.org/web/20171204095750/http://www.xjtu.edu.cn/xynr.jsp?urltype=tree.TreeTempUrl&wbtreeid=1634&wbxjtucollegeid=74

End-user lists

XJTU’s School of Electrical Engineering was added to the US BIS Unverified List in 2019.https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/11/2019-07211/revisions-to-the-unverified-list-uvl

Last updated 16 January 2020. Unclear about any wording? Visit the terminology page.