MOFCOM Spokesperson Answers Questions on the U.S. Department of Defense's Release of So-Called Research Security Review Results

On October 23, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce answered questions on the U.S. Department of Defense's release of so-called research security review results. The spokesperson stated that China has consistently opposed the U.S. side's overstretching of the concept of national security, its politicization, weaponization and instrumentalization of exchanges and cooperation in the research field, and its unreasonable "stigmatization" accusations against Chinese research institutions. The relevant U.S. practices are essentially coercing U.S. research institutions to "take sides," deliberately undermining normal China-U.S. research cooperation, which will only weaken the U.S.'s own scientific and technological progress and innovative development, and is like lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet. Strengthening China-U.S. research cooperation serves the common interests of both sides, and imposing restrictions and seeking "decoupling" will only harm others and oneself. China urges the U.S. side to respect facts, follow the general laws of global scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation and the trend of the times, and immediately stop its erroneous practice of taking discriminatory and restrictive measures against Chinese research institutions. China will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese research institutions. The original text is as follows: MOFCOM Spokesperson Answers Questions on the U.S. Department of Defense's Release of So-Called Research Security Review Results A reporter asked: On October 19, U.S. Eastern Time, the U.S. Department of Defense released the results of research security reviews of some U.S. universities, mentioning that the relevant universities have fully terminated cooperation with entities on the 1286 List. The entities on the 1286 List include many Chinese research institutions. What is MOFCOM's comment on this? We have noted the relevant situation. China has consistently opposed the U.S. side's overstretching of the concept of national security, its politicization, weaponization and instrumentalization of exchanges and cooperation in the research field, and its unreasonable "stigmatization" accusations against Chinese research institutions. The relevant U.S. practices are essentially coercing U.S. research institutions to "take sides," deliberately undermining normal China-U.S. research cooperation, which will only weaken the U.S.'s own scientific and technological progress and innovative development, and is like lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet. Strengthening China-U.S. research cooperation serves the common interests of both sides, and imposing restrictions and seeking "decoupling" will only harm others and oneself. China urges the U.S. side to respect facts, follow the general laws of global scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation and the trend of the times, and immediately stop its erroneous practice of taking discriminatory and restrictive measures against Chinese research institutions. China will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese research institutions. This article is excerpted from the official website of the Ministry of Commerce, edited by GMTEight's Feng Qiuyi.