Foreign researchers in China face a tightening environment with fewer opportunities due to strict COVID-19 policies and new data laws. While many feel welcomed, increasing regulations create significant challenges to scientific collaboration.
In the context of increasing restrictions, foreign researchers in China are concerned about a more authoritarian climate, exacerbated by the past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many continue to feel welcomed, new data regulations and security measures are complicating their work. The China Initiative, which targeted specific scientists for espionage, has left many academics wary of foreign relations regarding scientific collaboration.
Foreign researchers in China have observed a notable decrease in their numbers since COVID-19, with estimates indicating that only 5,000 to 10,000 foreign researchers with PhDs remain, a stark contrast to over 100,000 in the United States. Halldór Berg Harðarson, formerly running Euraxess in Beijing, highlights that strict pandemic policies contribute significantly to this decline, as many foreigners faced restrictions on returning after leaving China.
The impact of China’s stringent pandemic management is evident. A Euraxess survey showed that by autumn 2022, 40-50% of foreign academics had departed compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Harðarson noted the restrictive atmosphere resulting from health guidelines, which significantly deterred foreign talent. Personal anecdotes reveal frustrations such as late-night COVID test demands from health officials, demonstrating the level of surveillance.
Foreign researchers faced social challenges during the pandemic, experiencing stigma and isolation due to misconceptions about their roles in spreading COVID-19. Kārlis Rokpelnis, a social scientist in Beijing, remarked that the pandemic emphasized the authority of the Chinese government over foreign researchers. This realization has persisted even as the situation evolves.
China’s evolving data laws pose another challenge, emphasizing stringent control over information that can be shared internationally. Annina Lattu from Peking University emphasized the ambiguity and strictness of these regulations, complicating collaborative research efforts. The Data Security Law, which oversees all types of data, can create barriers for sharing even academic data when considered sensitive or involving personal details.
Joint research collaborations are frequent casualties of these regulations, as researchers find it hard to navigate uncertain boundaries. Rogier Creemers from Leiden University noted that while the laws primarily affect those dealing with medical data, their vague definitions hinder innovation and collaboration.
Concerns about espionage continue, mirror-like in security posters seen in research environments, causing unease but not overt accusations against foreigners. Many researchers feel that Chinese companies are typically less protective about intellectual property compared to their counterparts in other countries, revealing complexities in the collaborative landscape.
Foreign researchers in China are currently facing tightening restrictions amid an increasingly authoritarian atmosphere, fueled by the pandemic and evolving data laws. Despite some feelings of acceptance, the climate complicates foreign collaborations, particularly due to the ambiguity surrounding data regulations and the repercussions of the stringent COVID-19 responses. This challenging landscape necessitates careful navigation for continued academic engagement.
Original Source: www.nature.com
