UW-Madison sent four official delegations to China over the last two years, accelerated research connections with the country and aggressively recruited Chinese students to study here. Now, UW-Madison leaders are laying the groundwork for a physical foothold in China in what would be the school?s first foreign office.
….Not everyone believes UW-Madison should be establishing close ties with China. Tom Loftus, who until recently served on the UW Board of Regents, has called for the university to be more cautious.
?China isn?t Iowa ? there is censorship, human rights abuse, jailing of artists, defense lawyers and dissidents of all types,? Loftus wrote in an email to the State Journal. ?And, the Communist Party government has no compunction about punishing those countries and institutions that offend.?