By Randall Yip. Executive Editor
A provision in the U.S. defense budget that advocates in the Asian American community say would have discriminated against Chinese and Asian American researchers has been removed.
Gisela Perez Kusakawa, executive director of the Asian American Scholars Forum, says the provision known as the Safe Research Act would have had a “chilling effect” on American research overall, potentially punishing researchers for past activities that had previously been allowed and threaten international collaboration and research.
“This was simply bad and poorly devised,” she said during a phone interview with AsAmNews. “This leaves room for bias and potential discrimination against Asian Americans. “This could be implicit, explicit bias, but there’s a significant impact on the Asian American scholars, scientific, and research community, particularly if you’re of Chinese descent.”
The act authored by Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) attempted to prevent U.S. universities from collaborating with China’s military and intelligence services.
“These collaborations empower China’s military and exploit research paid for by American taxpayers. That’s why I am working with Chairman Walberg to pass the SAFE Research Act, which will end joint institutes, and stop our tax dollars from aiding our adversaries,” said Moolenaar back in September.
The Act met with stiff opposition from the academic and research committee. Faculty members and researchers from 210 U.S. universities from 41 states and the District of Columbia signed a letter to Congress opposing it.
Similar letters were also sent by the American Physical Society and the Association of American Universities.
The act would have been part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
Perez says international research and collaboration are key components of successful American research.
“When you cut off and isolate the United States from these sorts of collaborations, you really inhibit our ability to compete,” said Perez. “This means that we’re not able to attract and retain top talents from across the world.”
Registration is closed for Common Ground: Building Together conference and gala award banquet in San Francisco on January 24. A shoutout to our planning committee: Jane Chin, Frank Mah, Jeannie Young, Akemi Tamanaha, Nathan Soohoo, Mark Young, Dave Liu, and Yiming Fu.
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