US wants to prolong science and technology deal with China for 6 more months.
The United States Seeks Short-Term Extension to Science and Technology Agreement with China
The United States is currently seeking a short-term six-month extension to the science and technology agreement (STA) with China. This move comes amid concerns of intellectual theft and aims to address these issues effectively.
The STA, a landmark agreement first signed in 1979, established a framework for scientific research and technology development cooperation between the United States and China. It has been renewed every five years, with the current agreement set to expire on Aug. 27.
In coordination with other agencies, the U.S. State Department is actively pursuing a six-month extension to ensure the continuity of the agreement.
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“This short-term six-month extension will keep the agreement in force while we seek authority to undertake negotiations to amend and strengthen the terms of the STA. It does not commit the United States to a longer-term extension,” stated a spokesperson from the State Department in an interview with Reuters.
The State Department emphasizes that the agreement provides consistent standards for government scientific cooperation.
Renewal of the STA is currently under intense scrutiny, as U.S. lawmakers express concerns about potential intellectual property theft supported by Beijing.
“We are clear-eyed to the challenges posed by [China’s] national strategies on science and technology, Beijing’s actions in this space, and the threat they pose to U.S. national security and intellectual property, and are dedicated to protecting the interests of the American people,” the spokesperson added.
The House Select Committee on China has urged the U.S. government not to renew the STA, as they believe that research conducted under the agreement could potentially strengthen China’s military-industrial development.
Republican lawmakers Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) have proposed a bill on Aug. 23 that would require congressional notification for science and tech agreements. The proposed provision includes thorough risk assessments, human rights considerations, and consistent monitoring mechanisms.
Former U.S. chief technology officer Michael Kratsios, who worked on the last renewal of the STA in 2018, stated on Aug. 22 that allowing the STA to expire would “help refocus our cutting-edge R&D investments into venues where they are far less vulnerable to being used against the U.S. national interest.”
In response to the proposed short-term extension of the STA, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated in an email that Beijing’s “views and positions on China-U.S. science and technology relations are consistent. S&T is an open business.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Commerce has lifted restrictions on 27 Chinese companies, removing them from the “unverified list” that bans the purchase of U.S. products and technology without a license. This move has been seen by the international community as an “olive branch” to China ahead of U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s visit.
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