The expiration of the Science and Technology Agreement (STA) between the United States and China has coincided with a decline in scientific partnerships between the two countries. According to analysts, US-China scientific cooperations have entered a “cold-storage period” as geopolitical tensions have escalated. Research findings show a decrease in the proportion of joint publications between the two countries, with the share of collaborative research dropping significantly between 2017 and 2023.
A paper published by Professor Tang Li from Fudan University highlighted the peak in Sino-American joint publications in 2019, followed by a decline in subsequent years. Another research paper co-published by professors from the US and China also noted a drop in cooperation beginning in 2019, with political tensions being the main factor influencing the decrease. The launch of the China Initiative by the Trump administration in 2018 further strained US-China scientific collaborations, as the program targeted scientists suspected of connections to Beijing and potential breaches of national security.
The China Initiative, which was officially ended by the Biden administration in 2022, imposed harsh punishments on Chinese professors under the Economic Espionage Act and led to false accusations against many Asian scientists. While the new administration has shifted its focus to a broader threat-driven strategy involving Russia, Iran, and North Korea, the impact of the China Initiative continues to affect collaborations involving Chinese scientists. Institutions globally have become more cautious to avoid potential legal risks, with many researchers with federal grants choosing to avoid applying for them due to concerns about legal liability and suspicion related to collaborations with Chinese researchers.
A study published by the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions revealed that the number of Chinese-born scientists leaving the US has increased by 75% since the launch of the China Initiative, with two-thirds of them relocating to China. This exodus has raised concerns about the brain drain of talented researchers from the US to China, as well as the implications for scientific partnerships and collaborations between the two countries. The federal government, which is a significant source of funding for basic research in the US, continues to face challenges in retaining researchers and maintaining international scientific exchanges due to legal uncertainties and suspicions surrounding collaborations with Chinese entities.
Overall, the expiration of the STA and the subsequent decline in US-China scientific partnerships reflect the broader geopolitical tensions between the two countries. The impact of initiatives like the China Initiative continues to influence the behavior of researchers and institutions in both countries, with concerns about legal risks and potential repercussions affecting collaborations and funding opportunities. As the Biden administration seeks to refocus its efforts on a broader threat-driven strategy, the implications for scientific exchanges and partnerships between the US and China remain uncertain, highlighting the complex interplay between geopolitics and scientific cooperation in the modern era.
