Japan’s universities tighten background checks on foreigners studying military technologies

A survey of 56 universities, some with close China ties, found many had increased checks. Japan has 280,000 foreign students, 40 per cent of which are Chinese

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced a plan in June to tighten control on the exports of technologies that can be used for military purposes

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Students are seen at a Tokyo university. Japan has about 280,000 foreign students. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:47pm, 24 Sep 2021Updated: 8:47pm, 24 Sep 2021

Japan’s major universities, including those with close ties with China, are moving to tighten background checks on foreign students seeking to study civil-military technologies, a Kyodo News survey found.

Their effort to keep sensitive information from being transferred out of Japan comes after the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced a plan in June to tighten control on the exports of technologies that can be used for military purposes, requiring students under strong influence of foreign governments to gain the industry ministry’s approval for working on such research.

The survey collected responses from 56 universities including those having student exchange agreements with Chinese universities known as the “Seven Sons of National Defence” which have close links to China’s defence industry.

Of the surveyed schools, 31 said they have tightened student background checks or are planning to do so.

They have started to check with schools about which foreign students have attended and the companies they have worked for.