Lawmakers are raising concerns about the United States' lagging position in the biotechnology sector compared to China. They warn of risks to national security and commercial interests if corrective action is not taken.
Republican Mike Gallagher, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, emphasized the stakes at hand. He said, "It’s not just a supply chain battle or a national security battle or an economic security battle; I would submit it’s a moral and ethical battle. Just as the sector advances at a really astronomic pace, the country who wins the race will set the ethical standards around how these technologies are used." Gallagher's statement highlights the critical need for the United States to maintain its leadership in biotechnology due to its implications for economic security and setting global ethical standards. According to U.S. News, advancing this sector and maintaining economic competitiveness is a key goal of the current administration.
Biotechnology enables scientists and researchers to make significant advancements in areas such as medical treatment, genetic engineering, and agricultural development. Legislative measures have been proposed in both chambers of Congress aimed at limiting foreign biotech companies from conducting business with federally funded medical providers. As reported by VOA News, four China-owned companies are included on this list. The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology asserts that such legislation would help prevent data theft from federal government entities while also discouraging unfair competition from Chinese firms.
VOA News also reports that China's government plans to establish a national strategic technology force within its biotech sector. This force would be charged with making breakthroughs in order to help China achieve technological independence from the United States. Tom Bollyky, Bloomberg chair in global health for the Council on Foreign Relations, believes that any restrictive measures taken by the United States should primarily address military concerns and data security.
