The agreement on science and technology between the United States and People’s Republic of China is set to expire on Tuesday. According to the State Department, negotiations are underway to modify, prolong, and enhance the protective measures within the agreement, but it has not been disclosed whether the U.S. will extend the deal.

At this moment, the State Department spokesperson told VOA that we are unable to disclose any details about the negotiating stances of the U.S. or if the agreement will be prolonged beyond its current end date.

The collaboration agreement between the United States and China in the field of science and technology is known as the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.

American authorities have stated that the STA ensures a consistent set of guidelines for scientific collaboration between the governments of the United States and China.

Although the agreement promotes collaboration in beneficial areas for the United States, American officials recognize the difficulties presented by China’s national science and technology strategies and its laws within their country.

Some people, including politicians in the United States, highlight limits set by China on information and a lack of openness in disclosing research results. The American government is also worried about the well-being of U.S. scientists when they visit China, and the potential for Beijing to use shared research for military purposes.

The Congressional Research Service stated that China’s compliance with the agreement has been inconsistent. They noted that China refused to provide avian influenza strains necessary for U.S. vaccines and in 2019, restricted the U.S.’s ability to conduct research on the coronavirus, including work funded by the U.S. at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Supporters of extending the contract desire to uphold a certain degree of both formal and informal communication, despite the tension between the two nations.

At a recent conversation organized by the Institute for China-America Studies (ICAS) in Washington, the discussion participants emphasized the significance of the STA as a symbol and how it encourages researchers from both China and America to strengthen their collaborations.

“If the agreement is not renewed, the trust and support that are crucial for collaboration will inevitably be impacted,” stated ICAS in its overview of the event.

According to Dean Cheng, a senior advisor for the China program at the U.S. Institute of Peace, the American system is much more transparent. This means that China will likely have access to information even without an agreement.

According to Cheng, the STA does not ensure that American scientists will have access to Chinese research, information, or scholars. Instead, the Chinese side may use the STA to further establish their presence in the United States. Cheng also believes that the strategic advantage in this deal will likely be in favor of the People’s Republic of China.

In 1979, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and ex-PRC leader Deng Xiaoping signed the STA. This agreement promotes collaboration between the two nations in various areas such as agriculture, energy, space exploration, healthcare, environmental protection, earth sciences, engineering, and educational and scholarly programs.

In November 2009, there was a rise in science and technology cooperation between the United States and China, marked by the establishment of joint initiatives in areas such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and the formation of the CERC. This is a ten-year research collaboration between the US Department of Energy and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

The contract has been renewed every five years since it began, and the most recent extension was in 2018. In August of last year, it was given an additional six months while officials from both countries worked to modify and enhance the conditions.