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OPINION JUNE 30, 2023 | The Indian Eye 12

ment and Big Data, to advance the
UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Along with CAS, several univer-
sities in China promote S&T cooper-
ation. The University Alliance of the
Silk Road (UASR) was launched in
2015 by Xian Jiaotong University, with
more than 150 universities from BRI
countries joining the initiative.
Preliminary assessments indicate
that the Chinese decision to include
S&T collaboration has achieved some
success. According to the latest avail-
able data from the Chinese Ministry of
Education, 492,185 international stu-
dents were pursuing higher education
in China in 2018, of which substantial
numbers were from BRI countries.
With the backdrop of growing
collaboration, members of the BRI
countries have their own perceptions.
Robert-Jan Smits, former Director
General of Research and Innovation,
European Commission underlined
that as long as there are clear and trans-
parent ‘rules of the game’, scientific co- Critics have also pointed out that the Chinese science enterprise is ‘less international’ compared to Western scientific powers like the US, EU
operation with China is beneficial. The
Central and Eastern European coun- and the UK (File photo)
tries appreciate S&T collaboration
with China as a ‘respectful partner.’ Chinese stealing the defence and whelmingly dominated by ethnic Chi- climate crises and the COVID-19
In Africa, collaboration is concentrat- industrial secrets, “a bigger concern nese, with a very limited presence of pandemic have only heightened the
ed in three main sectors: information is that if the United States does not foreign scholars. critical importance of science, techno-
technology, agriculture and education. make adequate investments, in 10 to In tandem, Chinese science and logical innovation and collaboration
Nonetheless, some issues of con- 15 years we won’t have any secrets knowledge are intimately connected to overcome global challenges. Suc-
cern include low co-authored scientific that the Chinese find it worthwhile to with the Communist party in order to cessive Chinese leadership have taken
publications between China and BRI steal.” With the backdrop of the grow- fulfil the weave of the ‘China Dream’. steps to develop the country’s S&T
members, accounting for only 18 per ing Sino-American technology war, This nationalistic agenda seems to be infrastructure. China has overtaken
cent of the total of papers published by countries in Africa, the Middle East at odds with the Western notion of the United States for the first time in
China with international partners. Bai and parts of Eastern Europe, Latin ‘autonomy’ and ‘curiosity’ as drivers terms of research articles published
Chunli, President of CAS also points American and South East Asia are be- of research, and experts have under- in the Nature index group. From Jan-
out major obstacles for science coop- ing forced to choose sides, especially lined that China is at risk of turning uary-December 2022, China’s share
eration with BRI countries to include for the adoption of technology. away those ‘techno-globalists’.21 For of research articles was 19,373, com-
conflicts, social and economic gap Another major criticism is that instance, the high profile Communist pared to 17, 610 for the United States.
among BRI nations and a lack of pro- several BRI projects have been car- Party of China policy ‘Thousand Tal- In spite of the rapid growth of
fessionals and funding. ried out without rigorous assessment ents Program’ initiated in 2008, has yet Chinese S&T, there are rising com-
While the influence of Chinese of environmental risks. For instance, to achieve its goal. plaints on Chinese approach of shar-
S&T in BRI countries is widespread, it is research into the health and eco- The implementation and the ing data and protection of intellectual
not without criticism. The harshest crit- logical impacts of the BRI is almost achievement of the SDGs is critically property. Maintaining accountability
icism comes from Western countries, nonexistent in Pakistan universities, depends on science, technology and and transparency is vital for progress
especially the United States, specifical- mainly because the government of Pa- innovation. For instance, the contin- and can ensure win-win cooperation
ly on the implementation of DBAR, kistan doesn’t want to embarrass Chi- ued development of cleaner technol- with member countries of BRI. A key
which has fueled the ‘technology war’ na should the conclusions be anything ogies is indispensable, along with the fundamental is to uphold the princi-
between the United States and China. other than an endorsement of BRI transfer of clean technologies, and ple of ‘open science’, making scientific
It warned that signing up to DBAR projects. In fact, Magdalena Skipper, accessibility to developing countries, process more transparent, inclusive
has the potential of giving the Chinese the editor-in-chief of Nature, ‘environ- in order to mitigate the climate cri- and democratic.
government surveillance opportuni- mental sciences’ will be an interesting sis. Since launching of BRI in 2013,
ties and giving away the keys to untold area to watch as this discipline “has primary attention has been on ‘hard Dr Opangmeren Jamir is Research
amounts of economically valuable only emerged as a focus more recent- infrastructure’ though, mainly on the Analyst at Manohar Parrikar Institute
and sensitive information, including ly in China” where the impact in this energy and transport sectors like rail- for Defence Studies and Analyses
such diverse topics as oceanic current area “of research has key implications ways, bridges and roads, with S&T be- Views expressed are of the author and
readings to biological samples to next that extend well beyond China itself.” ing one of the minor components (at do not necessarily reflect the views of
generation communications systems. Critics have also pointed out that around 15 per cent in 2022). the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
On the growing trend of a Si- the Chinese science enterprise is ‘less In modern scientific research, col-
no-American technology war, former international’ compared to Western laboration is one of the most important Government of India.
director of White House Science and scientific powers like the US, EU and aspects as it pools collective knowledge This article first appeared in the Comments
Technology Policy, John P. Holdren, the UK, where immigrants make up and thereby enhances better utiliza- section of the website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
has stated that although there is ma- a significant proportion of the S&T tion of resources and improves inno- har Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies
jor concern about the perception of workforce. Chinese S&T is over- vations. The reality of ongoing global and Analyses, New Delhi on June 23, 2023

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