US House committee approves bill to review US-China science agreement, relations may deteriorate
- In Reports
- 03:12 PM, Mar 23, 2024
- Myind Staff
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has unanimously approved a bill aimed at enhancing congressional oversight over future State Department engagements concerning science and technology agreements with China.
Representative Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, brought forward a bill that says the Secretary of State must tell Congress all about science and technology agreements with China, including the good things and the bad things, before going ahead with them.
If the bill becomes law, the government has to wait 30 days after telling Congress about science deals with China before going ahead. The committee's vote of 50-0 means the bill moves forward, but no dates for a full House or Senate vote are set yet.
The bill could hinder the periodic renewal of the Science and Technology Agreement (STA) between the US and China, which was first signed in 1979 by US President Jimmy Carter and Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping as the first bilateral deal between the two nations. Typically renewed every five years, the STA has received several six-month extensions, including one last August and another in February.
The current agreement has provided financial, legal, and political support to researchers from both the US and China for decades, encouraging scientific collaboration. Supporters contend that the STA safeguards American scientists in China and promotes research in the US by granting access to vital Chinese databases, particularly in areas such as health studies.
Critics argue that China has been able to exploit the Science and Technology Agreement (STA) by exercising oversight and control over science and technology projects within its borders. They contend that this has enabled China to address scientific gaps and leverage the decentralized American academic landscape, establishing dominance in sectors such as electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Supporters of the bill stress the importance of assessing risks and evaluating the impact of the Science and Technology Agreement (STA) on American innovation. Representative Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, highlighted China’s exploitation of American scientific openness to steal research and advance its own agendas, including military expansion.
The bill, supported by both parties, aims to impose sanctions on all 205 members of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and their families. It was sponsored by Representative Lisa McClain, a Republican from Michigan, and passed with a 28-22 vote. The president can lift sanctions if China shows improvement in areas like its treatment of Uygur Muslims and its actions concerning Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Supporters believe the bill will prompt responsible actions from the Chinese Communist Party, but critics, including Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, warn that broad sanctions could harm US-China relations and hinder engagement between American officials and Chinese counterparts.
Image source: FirstPost
Comments