Source link : https://usa-news.biz/2024/12/14/sciences-nature/u-s-and-china-strike-new-science-and-tech-pact-amidst-intensifying-rivalry/
Revitalization of US-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement
Officials from both the United States and China announced on Friday the renewal of a pivotal cooperation agreement in the fields of science and technology, adapting its terms to include new precautions aimed at addressing national security concerns.
A Historical Pact Updated for Modern Times
The original Science and Technology Agreement was established in 1979, marking a significant milestone as it was the first formal arrangement following the normalization of relations between these two nations. Typically revised every five years, its recent extensions have faced scrutiny from U.S. legislators due to China’s rising technological influence.
This key accord was up for a refresh in 2023 but had received two consecutive six-month extensions before officially expiring on August 27. Ongoing negotiations about its future had been taking place for months prior to this announcement.
Details of the Enhanced Agreement
The State Department declared on Friday that they successfully renewed this “modernized and fortified” agreement for another five years. Key features include robust protections for intellectual property, enhanced safety measures for researchers, and improved transparency alongside data sharing protocols—elements designed to bolster U.S. interests while advancing collaborative efforts.
This updated agreement specifically focusses on fundamental research; however, it deliberately excludes provisions that would enable advancements in crucial technologies or emerging fields.
Tightened Export Controls Amid Concerns
The Biden administration has recently implemented strict export controls targeting advanced semiconductor products while limiting investment opportunities within China’s vital sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. This strategy derives from apprehensions regarding how these technologies might contribute to enhancing China’s military capabilities.
The Chinese Perspective
A brief announcement by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology confirmed their involvement in renewing this important pact but did not elaborate further details surrounding its terms or implications.
The Importance of Continued Collaboration
Proponents heralded the renewal as crucial; they contend that neglecting this agreement would jeopardize essential government-to-government partnerships focused on pressing global issues such as climate change mitigation and public health challenges while also impeding academic collaboration between these economic giants.
The Fallout of Previous Initiatives
Tensions surrounding scientific cooperation have already escalated due to initiatives like the China Initiative—a national security program instituted during Trump’s presidency aimed at curbing intellectual property theft within educational institutions. This initiative led many high-profile Chinese scholars to leave American universities before concluding amid several unproductive prosecutions by 2022.
Civil rights organizations advocating for Asian American groups assert that ethnic Chinese academics were disproportionately affected by policies under this initiative, with congressional representatives now expressing interest in reintroducing such measures.
The post U.S. and China Strike New Science and Tech Pact Amidst Intensifying Rivalry first appeared on USA NEWS.
Author : Jean-Pierre CHALLOT
Publish date : 2024-12-14 16:13:10
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