December 13, 2024 at 10:40AM
The U.S. has revised its science and technology agreement with China, narrowing its scope and enhancing security measures amid rising tensions. The deal, effective for five years, focuses on basic research, safeguarding intellectual property, and limiting cooperation on critical technologies like AI and quantum computing, reflecting the current geopolitical landscape.
### Meeting Takeaways
1. **Updated Science and Technology Agreement**: The U.S. has revamped its decades-old science and technology agreement with China, adapting to the current technological rivalry.
2. **Key Features of the New Agreement**:
– **Narrower Scope**: Focuses solely on basic research.
– **Safeguards for National Security**: Enhanced measures to protect U.S. interests and intellectual property.
– **Transparency and Data Reciprocity**: New provisions established to strengthen cooperation.
3. **Exclusions**: The agreement explicitly does not cover the development of critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
4. **Historical Context**: The original agreement was signed in 1979. The last extension occurred in 2018, reflecting a need for changes due to evolving U.S.-China relations.
5. **Duration of Agreement**: The new agreement will last for five years, indicating a renewed but cautious approach to cooperation.
6. **Impact of U.S.-China Relations**:
– Tech rivalry has intensified, leading to bans on advanced chip exports and investment restrictions.
– Prior measures to curb espionage in academia have strained scientific collaboration, though these programs ended in 2022.
7. **Expert Opinions**:
– **Deborah Seligsohn**: Anticipates reduced government-to-government programs but believes cooperation can still be maintained despite a difficult bilateral relationship.
– **Rep. Andy Barr**: Critiques past cooperation as enabling significant knowledge transfer to China.
– **Rep. Gregory Meeks**: Acknowledges the benefits of research collaborations but supports congressional oversight to align projects with U.S. values.
8. **Conclusion**: The new agreement strikes a balance between sustaining some level of cooperation in basic research while addressing national security concerns amid increasing tensions.