Abstract
Science and technology have played important roles in the development of US-China relations since the late 1970s. The mechanism of scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries has been a useful tool of diplomacy and remains so today. However, the use of that tool has become more complicated over the past three decades in the face of changing political, economic and security environments, the impact of China’s growing capabilities in science and technology, a deepening of economic globalization and the growing role of global production networks, and the rise of global environmental and health issues. Ethnic identity as a basis for collaboration and the changing roles played by US-based ethnic Chinese scientists and engineers have played important roles. While the imperatives for building a long-term, sustainable cooperative science and technology relationship between the two countries are stronger than ever, the potential for conflict also has increased, pointing to the need for new approaches to governance in the bilateral relationship.
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Notes
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For recent discussions of the extent of the US-China government to government S&T relationship, see White House (2012).
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Interviews conducted in Beijing in May 2013.
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From the US point of view, the effectiveness of export control policies is closely related to the availability of alternative suppliers; US unilateral controls, for instance, are recognized as being somewhat limited if advanced technologies are available from other countries. Less attention has been given to the question of whether the denial of technology through export controls has been a spur to successful indigenous technological development in China, as many Chinese observers allege.
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China was experiencing several commercial launch failures at the time having to do with the separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle. Allegedly, Loral and Hughes supplied critical information in attempt to solve the problem. The information was subject to export controls, but the companies failed to acquire the proper license.
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In a comparative study of how six nations manage the challenges of reconciling science and technology policies with foreign affairs, Tim Flink and Ulrich Schreiterer identify a number of weaknesses in the US approach which accord with the more specific details of the US-China relationship (Flink and Schreiterer 2010).
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Suttmeier, R.P., Simon, D.F. (2014). Conflict and Cooperation in the Development of US–China Relations in Science and Technology: Empirical Observations and Theoretical Implications. In: Mayer, M., Carpes, M., Knoblich, R. (eds) The Global Politics of Science and Technology - Vol. 2. Global Power Shift. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55010-2_9
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