US Aims to Strengthen Science and Technology Agreement with China Amid Security Concerns
The United States is seeking to reinforce its decades-old science and technology agreement with China, despite growing national security concerns. The agreement, known as the US-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA), was originally signed in 1979 and has been renewed every five years since. It has fostered cooperation between the two nations in various scientific and technological fields, but doubts have emerged about extending the agreement due to worries over China’s military expansion and alleged theft of US intellectual property.
To address these concerns, the US State Department is negotiating a six-month extension of the STA, aiming to strengthen and revise its conditions. This shorter extension will enable talks on reinforcing the agreement without committing the US to a long-term extension. The STA establishes uniform norms for scientific collaboration between government agencies, and if it were to expire, each agency would have to engage in separate negotiations with China.
The State Department spokesperson emphasized the US government’s commitment to protecting American interests and acknowledged the challenges posed by China’s national strategies on science and technology. They further highlighted concerns about Beijing’s actions in these areas and the threat they pose to US national security and intellectual property.
While the Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet issued an official response, Chinese officials have indicated a willingness to maintain the agreement. However, some Republican lawmakers argue that the agreement should be abandoned due to fears of industrial espionage, coerced technology transfers, and other tactics that may contribute to China’s military modernization efforts.
In response to these concerns, Republican congressmen Andy Barr, Neal Dunn, and Rob Wittman introduced a measure that would require congressional notification for any future agreements with China. The proposed legislation would give the State Department specific timeframes to report Congress on China’s compliance, conduct security threat assessments, and evaluate technology transfers. Failure to meet these requirements would result in the cancellation of any agreement.
Despite the reservations expressed by the committee, the Biden administration is determined to re-engage with China under the existing agreement. Supporters argue that the pact provides vital insights into China’s technological advancements and would be detrimental to US knowledge without its continuation. Nevertheless, many observers believe that the agreement needs to be revised to safeguard US innovation in the face of escalating strategic competition with China.
As discussions continue, stakeholders are hoping to strike a balance between preserving scientific cooperation and addressing legitimate security concerns. The fate of the US-China Science and Technology Agreement hangs in the balance, with the potential for future revisions to ensure the protection of American interests as the geopolitical landscape evolves.
