Canada up to its bootlicking tricks again: China Daily editorial

The Canadian government on Tuesday published a list of 11 "Sensitive Technology Research Areas" along with a list of 103 "Named Research Organizations" with which cooperation in the areas identified would be considered a potential national security risk.

Any research in such areas involving collaboration with the named entities, which are allegedly connected to foreign military, defense or security apparatuses, would be disqualified for federal funding.

While the policy will not take effect before September, the government may act accordingly now "should risks be identified", said a statement issued by three government ministers, citing Canada's new "Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern".

In the current atmosphere of geopolitical complexity, it has become habitual for countries to worry about national security and for them to make moves to address perceived risks, real or otherwise. The politicizing of such concerns, however, and the abusing and manipulating of remedial actions not only poison international relations, but also impede scientific and technological advancement.

The 11 research areas cover literally all the realms of emerging technologies that are believed to be of critical importance for future scientific and technological advancement.

Among the "Named Research Organizations" that allegedly "may pose" a threat to Canadian national security and sensitive research are 85 Chinese research institutions supposedly suspected of being "military, national defense or state security entities".

The Canadian move will deal an additional blow to the already icy ties with China. In Beijing's eyes, this is but another sign that Ottawa is determined to follow in the United States' footsteps.

The move "seriously undermines scientific exchanges and cooperation between China and Canada, and is not conducive to improving and stabilizing bilateral relations," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

"The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposes it," she said.

Scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between the two sides are two-way and mutually beneficial, she pointed out.

And as many have observed, such national security scrutiny will inevitably have a chilling effect on both Canadian and international scientific and technological progress.

The Canadian policy is certainly detrimental to the scientific and technological communities of China and Canada, for it will erect insurmountable obstacles to normal exchanges and collaboration.

Instead of obstructing such exchanges and cooperation, Ottawa should create the conditions and atmosphere for improving and developing scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.