U. S. and China Update Science Pact: A New Era of Tech Rivalry

In a move reflecting the changing times, the U. S. has revamped its old science and technology agreement with China. The new deal, inked after lengthy talks, is smaller in scope and has extra safeguards to keep national security safe. The State Department says it protects intellectual property and ensures transparency and data fairness. The agreement now only covers basic research, leaving out critical tech like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. These fields are seen as crucial for a country’s economic power and military strength. The first agreement was signed back in 1979 when the U. S. and China started diplomatic relations. At the time, China was far behind in science and tech. The agreement has been updated a few times since, including a five-year extension now. As the U. S. and China's tech battle heats up, the U. S. has put limits on exports of advanced chips to China and restricted some investments. Universities and research centers have also seen a chill in cooperation due to fears of spying. Experts say this new agreement will mean fewer government-to-government projects but will allow cooperation to continue even in tough times. Some lawmakers see this as a good way to share expertise, while others want stricter oversight to make sure projects align with U. S. values.