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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.

Visitors look at home appliances at the Hong Kong ⁣Spring Electronics Fair held ⁢on April 12, ​2023. (Peter Parks/AFP)

“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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