China condemns US listing of Fudan and other research bodies, vows to act
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China's Commerce Ministry on Wednesday condemned the U.S. Defense Department's decision to add several Chinese research institutions to a restricted list, calling it an example of politicizing scientific cooperation. A ministry spokesperson said Beijing would take necessary measures to protect the legal rights and interests of the affected institutes and maintain a healthy environment for science and technology exchanges. The protest came after the Pentagon last week put Fudan University and other bodies on its ‘List of Foreign Research Institutions Engaging in Problematic Activities’.
The Pentagon's Watchlist
The U.S. Defense Department last week added several Chinese research institutions, including Shanghai's Fudan University, to its 'List of Foreign Research Institutions Engaging in Problematic Activities.' The list targets entities with alleged ties to China's military and has become a flashpoint in bilateral science relations. Fudan is one of China's top universities with extensive international partnerships. The move follows broader U.S. efforts to curb technology transfer to China's defence sector.
Beijing's Response
China's Commerce Ministry, in a statement carried by Xinhua, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the U.S. decision. A spokesperson said China 'will take necessary measures' to protect the legal rights and interests of the listed institutions and to maintain a healthy environment for scientific and technological exchanges. The ministry did not elaborate on the nature of the measures. It demanded that the U.S. immediately correct its 'erroneous practices' and provide fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory treatment to Chinese research entities.
Scientific Cooperation Weaponized
The ministry accused the U.S. of continuously expanding the concept of national security, erecting discriminatory barriers, and politicizing scientific research cooperation into a weapon and tool. The statement argued that the listing harms contacts and cooperation between the scientific communities of the two countries and contradicts the global trend of openness in sci-tech innovation. China urged Washington to cease its 'unfounded accusations' and to 'expeditiously correct its erroneous practices.'
What's Next
The U.S. has not yet responded to China's latest statement. It remains unclear whether the dispute will escalate into further tit-for-tat restrictions, but analysts warn that the move could chill academic exchanges between the world's two largest research powers.
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China condemns US listing of Fudan and other research bodies, vows to act
