The United States has recently updated a longstanding science and technology agreement with China to address their increasing competition for technological supremacy. The revised agreement, finalized after extensive negotiations, now has a more focused scope and includes additional measures to mitigate national security risks.
The State Department highlighted that the updated agreement reinforces intellectual property protections, introduces new safeguards to ensure the safety and security of researchers, and promotes U.S. interests through enhanced provisions on transparency and data reciprocity. Notably, the agreement is limited to basic research and does not support the advancement of critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, which are pivotal for economic and military strength.
The original agreement was established in January 1979 when the U.S. and China forged diplomatic ties to counter the Soviet Union's influence, at a time when China significantly lagged behind Western nations in science and technology. The agreement, last extended in 2018, has now been renewed for five years following temporary extensions granted in the previous years to facilitate negotiations.
Amid escalating tensions in the tech war between the two nations, the U.S. has imposed restrictions on exports of advanced chips to China and limited American investments in technologies that could enhance China's military capabilities. Collaboration in science and technology between universities and research institutions had waned due to a program introduced during the Trump administration to combat Chinese espionage, which was terminated in 2022 due to concerns of racial profiling and unsuccessful prosecutions of researchers.
Experts anticipate that the new agreement will lead to a reduction in government-to-government programs but will enable sustained cooperation through its restricted scope and enhanced security measures, even amidst a challenging bilateral relationship. Lawmakers have expressed differing views on the benefits and drawbacks of the long-standing cooperation, with some highlighting the positive outcomes of research collaborations in disease prevention, pollution reduction, and environmental studies.
While acknowledging the mutual benefits of research collaborations, some lawmakers advocate for congressional oversight to ensure that projects under the agreement align with U.S. values and interests.
