US, China Renew Science and Technology Agreement

The United States and China have renewed their Science and Technology Agreement (STA) for another five years, modernizing the framework to reflect the evolving technological rivalry between the two nations. The updated agreement, signed on December 13, 2024, includes strengthened intellectual property protections and safeguards to enhance transparency and data reciprocity, intending to protect national security. It focuses solely on basic research and excludes critical technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing to prevent strategic technological advancements that could benefit China's military capabilities. This renewal follows temporary extensions and extensive negotiations, acknowledging the shift in U.S.-China relations since the agreement's inception in 1979. The agreement strives to maintain a channel for scientific collaboration amid heightened tensions, ensuring American researchers' safety and access to valuable Chinese databases.