SCMP "42% of US Export-Controlled Items to China Are Scientific Equipment"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] More than 40% of the items restricted from export to China by the United States are scientific equipment, and Chinese scientists are reportedly facing difficulties due to equipment shortages caused by U.S. export controls, according to a study.

On the 1st, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) cited Chinese researchers and AI analysis, reporting that since the start of the U.S.-China trade war in 2018, the number of U.S. export-restricted items to China increased to over 4,500 by December last year, with 1,900 (42%) of these being scientific equipment.

Among the scientific equipment, most are precise analytical and measurement instruments used in laboratories, along with research devices related to computer chip design and development, as well as laser-related equipment.

In the past, China's access to certain equipment was restricted due to concerns that it could be used for military research, but after the trade war began, China's basic research and advanced manufacturing sectors also became targets of U.S. export restriction policies.

Professor Wang Xuejiao of the National Science Library at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues stated in a paper published on the 25th of last month in the Chinese scientific journal World Sci-Tech R&D, "The U.S. government aims to restrict China's access to some emerging and foundational technologies to suppress China's development in scientific research and industrial manufacturing."

They added, "In response, China is preparing alternative measures to diversify imports from Russia, France, Germany, and other countries."

SCMP explained, "Scientific equipment is one of the few products not made in China," noting that "there are no Chinese companies among the world's top 20 scientific equipment suppliers." According to Chinese government data, about 60% of China's research infrastructure investment in recent years has been used to purchase overseas scientific equipment.

A physicist in Hefei, Anhui Province, revealed that he has been waiting for two years for U.S. government approval for American-made equipment ordered for his laboratory. He added that he tried to look for other suppliers but found it difficult.

SCMP reported that as of the end of 2019, China had more than 4,000 scientific equipment manufacturers, but most produce mid- to low-end products.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.