Hoosier State Today

Senator Todd Young, alongside fellow Republicans from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has raised concerns over the Biden Administration's decision to renew the U.S.-People’s Republic of China (PRC) Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA) for another five years. The senators argue that China has used this agreement to bolster its military capabilities and state-led industrial growth.

In their letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators stated: "The era in which U.S.-PRC science and technology (S&T) cooperation made sense is long gone. The PRC wants to dominate the technologies of the future and will use whatever legal and illegal means it takes to get there." They further warned that the renewal could facilitate China's acquisition of technology through American research partnerships.

The letter emphasized concerns about protecting American researchers, enforcing intellectual property rights, and preventing unauthorized knowledge transfers. Despite briefings provided by the Department of State, the senators expressed continued unease over these issues.

They also criticized the timing of the renewal, suggesting it limits input from an incoming administration on what they describe as a controversial agreement. The letter was signed by Senators Jim Risch, John Barrasso, Pete Ricketts, and Bill Hagerty in addition to Senator Young.