US panel examines China tech, R&D, security concerns

A US gov panel will look at China’s growing tech influence and how that could impact national security next week.

Doing so through a public hearing on July 16, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission will address “Research and development, technological advances in key industries, and changing trade flows with China.”

The hearing will examine the China market, domestic and foreign-funded R&D in China, and the development in key industries, with tech industries highlighted, in China.

A similar hearing, “China’s proliferation and the impact on trade policy on defense industries in the United States and China,” was held this time last year. Statements from the 2007 hearing can be found here.

While it’s no secret that security tops the US gov’s list of concerns when it comes to China and while last year’s hearing was very blatantly focused on national security, this year’s hearing looks to have more of a tech edge to it. Up for hearing discussion are questions like:

• What is the relationship between the increased amount of R&D spending in China, particularly by foreign-invested firms, and the increase in Chinese advanced technology production?
• Is Chinese R&D becoming more focused on basic rather than applied research?
• Is China able to capitalize on the R&D undertaken in China by foreign-invested companies?
• Does China’s government dictate the nature and scope of R&D projects undertaken there?
• What do China’s R&D activities reveal about its economic and national security goals?
• What ties exist between the military, the universities, and the state-owned companies cooperating on R&D?

Also up for discussion will be the causes behind changes in global trade flows that have seen Japan become the largest exporter to China; China surpass the United States as the world’s second largest exporter; China become the largest exporter to the European Union; and China’s imports of raw materials increase while its exports of advanced technology products also increase.

A slew of Senate and House representatives, as well as numerous academics, union group officials, and economists, are scheduled to testify. The hearing will be held next Wednesday, 9:00 am to 3:45 pm in room 385, Russell Senate Office Building, Delaware and Constitution Avenues NE, Washington DC. 

How big of a concern is national security when it comes to tech, R&D, and China? Does military integration underscore China’s tech strategy, as many have suggested? Share your thoughts below.

–Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News