New Bill Blocks Federal Funds for Research in China: 'Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act' Targets Government and Communist Party Entities

The "Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023" (SEC. 1) flat-out prohibits a bunch of big-name federal agencies—like the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, EPA, and even the Department of Health and Human Services—from sending any money, directly or indirectly, to research run by the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party (SEC. 2).

No More Money Flowing East?

This bill is all about cutting off the cash pipeline to research entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government or Communist Party. Think of it like this: your tax dollars won't be going to labs or institutions that are directly linked to the Chinese state. This applies to a wide range of agencies, impacting everything from defense and energy to environmental protection and health research. For example, a joint research project on renewable energy between a U.S. university and a Chinese institution directly funded by the Chinese government would no longer be eligible for federal funding from the U.S. side.

The Fine Print and Potential Problems

While the goal is straightforward – protecting U.S. interests – the details could get tricky. The bill uses the terms "indirectly funding" and "entity it owns or controls" (SEC. 2), which could be open to interpretation. For instance, what if a U.S. university collaborates with a private Chinese company that has a minority shareholder who is a member of the Communist Party? Does that count as "indirectly" funding an entity controlled by the Party? This lack of clarity could create headaches for researchers and universities trying to navigate international collaborations. It might also create challenges for ongoing research projects that already rely on some level of collaboration or funding connected to Chinese entities. Also, existing laws are not referenced in the bill, so this adds another layer of complexity.

Real-World Ripple Effects

Beyond the immediate impact on research funding, this bill could have broader consequences. If a U.S. scientist working on, say, advanced battery technology can no longer collaborate with Chinese counterparts, it could slow down progress in that field. Or, consider a public health researcher studying infectious diseases; cutting off collaboration with Chinese scientists could limit access to vital data and expertise, especially given China's role in recent global health events. The long-term effects on scientific progress and international cooperation are something to keep a close eye on.