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Oldest US-China science deal up in the air as Washington seeks to ‘amend terms’
- The US is seeking a six-month extension to landmark 1979 Science and Technology Agreement, renewed roughly every five years so far
- Lapse in accord would hurt both countries, observers say, as critics in US cite fears of China using the deal to further military aims
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Allowing a landmark US-China science research pact to lapse would be a loss for both countries, observers said, as Washington sought a six-month extension to the decades-old agreement due for renewal within days.
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The 1979 Science and Technology Agreement was the first US-China accord to be signed after relations were normalised that year. It will expire on Sunday without administrative action to keep it alive.
The short-term extension would keep the STA in force as the US sought “authority to undertake negotiations to amend and strengthen [its] terms”, Reuters cited a US State Department spokesman as saying on Wednesday.
However, this “does not commit the United States to a longer-term extension”, the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
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A key US-China science cooperation deal is about to end
A key US-China science cooperation deal is about to end
Signed by then US president Jimmy Carter and Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, the STA has so far been renewed about every five years, serving as an “umbrella agreement” for bilateral scientific and technological cooperation.
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