U.S. Senators, led by Jim Risch of Idaho, have expressed concerns over the Biden Administration’s decision to renew the U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA) for another five years. The senators, including John Barrasso, Pete Ricketts, Todd Young, and Bill Hagerty, addressed their objections in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The senators argue that China has previously used this agreement to bolster its military and industrial capabilities. They believe extending the STA could further expose American research to cooptation by China. “The era in which U.S.-PRC science and technology (S&T) cooperation made sense is long gone,” they stated.
They emphasize that China’s control over its economic and research sectors allows it to exploit these ties with the United States to gain technological advantages. The renewal of the STA could encourage continued collaboration between American institutions and China, contrary to what they see as necessary precautions.
Concerns were also raised about safeguarding American researchers and intellectual property. Despite briefings from the Department of State on the STA, the senators remain worried about protecting against illicit knowledge transfers. They note that legislation has been introduced in Congress to enhance oversight of such agreements.
“The Department of State provided several briefings… Even so, we continue to have deep concerns about the adequacy of measures,” they wrote. The timing of this renewal was also criticized as it occurs at the end of an administration’s term without input from incoming officials.
The full text of their letter highlights these issues and urges a reversal of this decision by President Biden’s administration.
