US, China renew stalled scientific cooperation agreement

Renewed US-China scientific cooperation agreement amid economic rivalry includes new provisions on data reciprocity and intellectual property protection.

Washington and Beijing, locked in a fierce economic and political rivalry, renewed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement for five years on Friday following criticism by detractors, including US Republicans, that China is being given an advantage.

The signing is part of an effort to stabilize relations just weeks before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to slap huge tariffs on Chinese imports.

The agreement, which dates back to 1979, had been renewed every five years for decades, including during Trump's first term, until last year when diplomatic relations between the two countries were at record low.

Tensions soared that year over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwan's president and the US speaker of the House, and American military aid for Taipei.

But the agreement was nonetheless extended twice by six months until renegotiations could start.

The protocol "has new provisions" including on data reciprocity, which resulted from months of negotiations, a US senior administration official told journalists on condition of anonymity.

The push to renew came even as the United States attempts to wean itself from its dependence on Chinese semiconductors and wages battle against state hackings by Beijing.