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US Congressional Committee for International Relations approves legislation to examine US-China scientific agreement, relations expected to deteriorate
Even with the continuous technological conflicts between the US and China, some aspects were collaboratively worked on due to the scientific and technological pacts between these two nations. But, the escalating disputes might disrupt this cooperation in the future.
On Thursday, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee gave unanimous approval to a proposed law. This legislation is designed to enhance the Congress's supervisory role over future science and tech deals involving the State Department and China.
The legislation, brought forward by Kentucky's Republican Representative Andy Barr, requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress with comprehensive data about such deals, covering both their advantages and potential hazards, before they are pursued.
Should this be put into action, the government would be required to delay at least 30 days after submission before moving forward with these deals. This would give Congress the opportunity to assess potential threats to national security and consider any human rights implications.
The unanimous 50-0 vote by the committee paves the way for more legislative proceedings concerning the bill. Nonetheless, the schedule for the vote in the House of Representatives is still unresolved, and the same goes for the Senate.
The proposed legislation may hinder the regular renewal of the Science and Technology Agreement (STA) between the United States and China. This agreement was first established in 1979 by US President Jimmy Carter and Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping, marking the first bilateral pact between these two countries. Usually, the STA is renewed every five years, but it has received multiple half-year extensions, most recently in August of the prior year and again in February.
The existing deal has provided financial, legal, and political aid to researchers from both the US and China for many years, promoting scientific cooperation. Advocates contend that the STA safeguards US scientists based in China and promotes research in America by offering access to crucial Chinese databases, especially in areas such as health research.
Critics, however, contend that China's supervision and regulation over its domestic science and technology initiatives have enabled it to take advantage of the STA, addressing scientific deficiencies and utilizing the fragmented structure of American academia to gain superiority in areas like electric automobiles and renewable energy.
Advocates for the legislation stress the importance of identifying potential dangers and measuring the effect of the STA on U.S. advancements. Mike Gallagher, a GOP representative from Wisconsin who heads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, underscored China's exploitation of the transparency in U.S. science to misappropriate research and further their own objectives, such as military development.
The cross-party legislation also aims at the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, suggesting penalties for all 205 members of its Central Committee and their grown-up family members. The bill, endorsed by Michigan's Republican Representative Lisa McClain, was passed with a 28-22 vote. The bill empowers the president to suspend these sanctions if Beijing shows progress in numerous areas, such as their handling of Uygur Muslims, and their approach towards Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Supporters of the law see it as a crucial move to promote accountable conduct on the part of the Chinese Communist Party. However, detractors, including Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the leading Democrat on the committee, contend that such extensive sanctions could harm the relationship between the US and China. They believe it could also hinder American officials and businesses in their interactions with Chinese peers, potentially disrupting the progress of US interests.
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