Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Chinese researchers in U.S.A. - under threat from Trump

The Trump administration is considering restrictions on researchers coming to the U.S.A. from China due to fears that scientific discoveries are being taken back to China. The Defense Department estimates that approximately 25% of all efforts to obtain secret or sensitive information comes through academic institutions and a former counterintelligence executive indicates that Chinese and Russian agents come with targeted intelligence to gather.

Although details were initially not available, subsequent notices from the State Department indicate that one of the provisions of the Trump policy goes into effect on June 11, a measure that limits Chinese graduate student visas to one year for certain sensitive research areas.

A follow-up article noted that China's "Made in 2025" vision to achieve domination in the microchips, artificial intelligence, and electric cars could be compromised by restricting the flow of scholars and researchers. One also must ask, what advances in U.S.A. science and technology could also be compromised? This is an example of how trade wars between the U.S.A. and China (or any other country) have the potential to very negatively impact the quality of life around the globe. Why can't we find another model other than lose-lose competition?

Trump's move to restrict Chinese graduate students was explored in a conference of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Speaking to the conference, Jill Welch of NAFSA offered the opinion, "University and college officials take threats to national security, academic freedom and economic security very seriously." But she went on to caution against "the potential unintended consequences associated with overly broad action. Let us remember that we are in fact in a global competition for talent and it is through open collaboration, the influx of international perspectives and the free exchange of ideas that the United States will prosper in the global economy."

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