Stop letting China exploit NASA research
NASA says it explores and innovates “for the benefit of humanity,” but that should not mean the United States explores scientific frontiers on behalf of its enemies. The U.S. must do more to prevent sensitive research from being given away to China and other adversaries. It can start by strengthening a law that is already on the books.
TL;DR
- The Wolf Amendment, enacted in 2011, prohibits NASA from using federal funds for bilateral cooperation with China or Chinese-owned companies without congressional authorization and FBI certification.
- A recent report found that NASA's enforcement of the Wolf Amendment has been weak, with hundreds of co-authored publications indicating NASA support for Chinese entities, some linked to military technologies.
- The Chinese Communist Party's military-civil fusion strategy means that collaborations in fields like hypersonics and autonomous systems can directly benefit next-generation defense systems.
- NASA has reportedly conducted few Wolf Amendment certifications, suggesting many engagements may have occurred without proper oversight.
- Deficiencies in NASA's research security program, including a lack of dedicated resources and monitoring, have contributed to the problem.
- Proposed solutions include passing the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act, providing dedicated funding and staffing for NASA's research security office, and requiring regular reporting on violations.
- The article argues that these measures are crucial to prevent American scientific know-how from strengthening China's military-industrial base.