Daijiworld Media Network- Washington

Washington, Jan 11: US lawmakers and industry leaders are urging stricter export control regulations to curb biopharmaceutical collaborations between American companies and China’s military-linked biotechnology initiatives.

Amid rising concerns about China's strategic efforts to enhance its biotech capabilities, there are fears that US technology could be exploited for military and intelligence purposes.

Call for Action

In a letter to US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, a coalition of policymakers and experts has called for enhanced export controls on American companies collaborating with China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) medical institutions. These institutions have conducted hundreds of clinical trials over the past decade, raising alarms over the transfer of sensitive data and intellectual property to military-linked entities.

The letter proposes that export controls be expanded to include licensing requirements for collaborations involving PLA-linked medical institutions, like the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AAMS), which is on the US Department of Commerce's Entity List.

Regulatory Efforts

This initiative builds on the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) July 2024 notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at tightening controls on military and intelligence end-users. Lawmakers see this as an opportunity to refine and strengthen protections for US biotechnology.

National Security and Biotech Competition

The competition between the US and China in biotechnology is seen as critical to national security, public health, and economic prosperity. The letter references China's 14th Five-Year Plan, which prioritizes biotechnology for national power and military advancement. It also points to PLA officials’ expressed interest in developing synthetic pathogens for warfare.

Recommended Measures

The proposal suggests:

Broadening the definition of "Military End User" to include PLA-operated medical facilities. Introducing licensing requirements for US entities conducting clinical trials with PLA institutions. Encouraging US biopharmaceutical companies to prioritize partnerships with non-PLA medical institutions in China. Industry and Government Collaboration Industry stakeholders support these regulatory efforts, arguing that restricting PLA-linked collaborations would protect US innovations and national security interests. The letter emphasizes the importance of engaging with the Department of Commerce to refine the proposed rules.

Strategic Significance

As the US grapples with its technological rivalry with China, biotechnology has emerged as a key battleground in the pursuit of global dominance in science and security.