Things are changing

Source: Niu Tanqin Author: Niu TanqinThings are changing, and more and more Chinese scientists are being forced to leave the United States.Why?Because of fear!The Journal of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) recently published an article entitled"Caught in crossfire: fear of Chinese American scientists"Research report

Source: Niu Tanqin Author: Niu Tanqin

Things are changing, and more and more Chinese scientists are being forced to leave the United States.

Why?

Because of fear!

The Journal of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) recently published an article entitled"Caught in crossfire: fear of Chinese American scientists"Research report. The report points out that from 2010 to 2021, the number of Chinese American scientists who left the United States continued to rise, with scientists leaving at a particularly fast pace between 2018 and 2021, with many choosing to return to China.

In addition, in the survey of 1304 Chinese American scientists, although 89% of the respondents hope to contribute to Science and technology in the United States's leading position in science and technology; But at the same time,72% of respondents admitted that they feel unsafe as researchers in the United States, while 61% of respondents said they have considered job opportunities outside the United States.

Where does fear come from?

Racial discrimination and anti China impulses from the United States, especially the "China Initiative" (also known as the "China Initiative") launched during the Trump period.

The so-called "action plan" to address the so-called "security and technological threats" from foreign countries is actually aimed at cracking down on Sino US scientific and technological cooperation, especially targeting Chinese scientists.

Many Chinese American scholars working and studying in American universities have been investigated, with over 20 of them being charged or even criminally charged and arrested.

What about the results?

Many are simply unnecessary.

Taking the "Chen Gang case" as an example. Chen Gang is the former dean of the Department of Engineering at MIT and an academician of the National Academy of Engineering. He was arrested on January 14, 2021, his laboratory was closed, and his research team was dissolved. But a year later, all charges were dropped.

Some Americans are passionate about going online and catching spies. Under this cold cicada effect, how can Chinese scientists not feel afraid?

The report of the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences pointed out that "Chinese scientists in the United States are now facing a higher motivation to leave the United States and a lower motivation to apply for federal funding. The widespread fear and anxiety lead them to consider leaving the United States and/or stop applying for federal funding."

This fear and anxiety even spread to humanities scholars.

Li Cheng served for many years as the director of the John Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, an American think tank. When I worked in Washington, I often visited the center and knew this Chinese scholar from Chinese Mainland.

But after working at this center for 17 years, Li Cheng also chose to leave.

I saw that he said in an interview with the media that Washington is becoming more and more strange to him. McCarthyism is making a comeback in the United States, and Chinese Americans like him are not comfortable living in the United States.

He said: "My observation is that... Chinese students or students with green cards in the United States, because of this very worrying McCarthyism, although the presidents of American universities have performed well and strongly criticized this McCarthyism, it has created such an atmosphere that some top Chinese or Chinese scientists want to teach in China or other places."

During a public speech, Li Cheng said,More and more Americans are asking him to clarify which side he is speaking for: "When I say 'we', people will ask, 'Who do we' mean

This fear and anxiety ultimately led him to choose to go to the University of Hong Kong and create a new "Center for China and World Governance".

Many scientists also returned to the mainland. For example, Yan Ning, a famous structural biologist and foreign academician of the National Academy of Sciences, announced last year that he would leave Princeton University and return to China to establish the Shenzhen Academy of Medical Sciences.

According to the report of the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences, nearly half of the Chinese scientists who left the United States in 2010 moved to Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, and the proportion of Chinese scientists who went to Chinese Mainland these years is still rising.

I always feel that these are two forces at work.

One is the attractiveness of China.Simply put, China welcomes scientists from all over the world, including those of Chinese descent. China's increasingly favorable research environment and development prospects have led these scientists to choose to return home.

More importantly, it is the United States' repulsion.How can such racial discrimination, especially the "spy catching" behavior against Chinese scholars, not make scientists feel cold?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

I don't know. It depends on which position you are taking.

I have seen some media outlets in the United States expressing anxiety, and an article in Foreign Policy warns that:If this trend continues, it may have a significant impact on research in the United States in the long run.

The article quotes David Bier, Deputy Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, as saying, "This is absolutely devastating. Many of the researchers that the United States relies on in the field of advanced technology are from China or foreign students, and this phenomenon will definitely have a negative impact on American companies and future research in the United States

Will the United States change?

It's difficult! The policy of hostility towards China remains unchanged, and this discrimination against Chinese scholars is difficult to change.

In fact, not only are Chinese scientists forced to leave, but the United States is also tightening its visa requirements for Chinese international students, and some so-called sensitive disciplines even prohibit the recruitment of Chinese international students. According to a study by the Cato Institute,The visa rejection rate of Chinese students studying in the United States reached 35% in 2022, the highest level in 20 years.

At the same time, because of this oppressive environment, many American students also dare not go to China to study. It is said that there are at least 300000 Chinese international students in the United States now; But in China, there are only 350 American international students.

Daniel Murphy, former director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies of Harvard University, warned:We are losing a generation of people who have knowledge of China. I am concerned that the United States is overly concerned about the risks of academic relations when dealing with this issue, without fully considering its benefits Moreover, this situation exists in both parties

Finally, what do you think?

Let's have three basic opinions.

Firstly, the United States is no longer the original United States.

The United States has changed, and indeed it has become a bit unfamiliar. I remember when I worked in the United States, I often had contact with American officials and even visited my home. Everyone talks more about cooperation, friendship, and joint response to crises.

But now?

Many unimaginable, even trying to "catch spies" among Chinese scientists. The original open and inclusive America has completely disappeared.

I remember the Atlantic Monthly in the United States also exclaimed in an article,The increasingly protectionist approach of the United States is pushing the most valuable asset in technological competition towards China.

Secondly, China is not the original China either.

Otherwise, there will not be more and more Chinese scientists choosing to return to China. Of course, China must learn from the lessons of the United States, see its own gaps, and be more open.

In this world, openness is the true confidence. Only by opening up can we attract more talents; Only more talents can create new miracles.

No need to avoid it. We did indeed send a lot of talents to the United States before, but don't worry, as long as there is a good enough environment, talents will always return, not just Chinese American talents.

Third, I can't help thinking of the story of Emperor Taizong of Tang.

In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, when the imperial examination was opened, Emperor Taizong of Tang came to Duanmen secretly, saw the new candidates walking out one by one, and said happily:The heroes of the world are within my reach

What is the most important thing in the 21st century?

Talent!

The true layout is the layout for the future; The true competition is the competition for talent.

I always feel that not only do we need to 'I advise the Heavenly God to be energetic and not just demote talents', but also in the global talent competition, we need to demonstrate courage and attractiveness, and have the courage to incorporate world talents into our talent pool.

This is the true vision and atmosphere of a great country.

Personal opinions do not represent any organization

Column Editor in Chief: Qin Hong Text Editor: Cheng Pei Inscription Source: Tuchong Image Editor: Da Xi

Source: Author: Niu Tanqin

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