Decoupling from China will harm the Netherlands’ technological development: researcher

Ingrid d'Hooghe, a senior researcher at the Netherlands Clingendael Institute, said that blindly advocating for decoupling from China will come at a heavy cost, particularly in the field of technology, as China holds a leading position globally in multiple areas.

In an article published on the official website of the institute on May 9, Ingrid d'Hooghe said that “cutting our scientific links with China on a large scale will seriously damage our international position in technology and innovation.”

China is now a major country in technology, leading globally in such fields as biotechnology, 5G, 6G, nanomaterials and new energy batteries. According to a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, China is ahead in 37 out of 44 key scientific and technological areas. The Netherlands needs China's expertise in these scientific fields.

China has the second-largest expenditure on research and development in the world, following the United States. Each year, over 11 million students graduate from Chinese universities, and China possesses a significant number of outstanding students and researchers in natural sciences, which are in short supply around the world, with the Netherlands included. Therefore, ignoring or excluding Chinese scientists would mean falling further behind in technology for the Netherlands.

The article states that the Netherlands collaborates with China in areas in which China possesses abundant knowledge and expertise, such as cancer treatment, biopharmaceuticals, the circular economy, and sustainable development. This joint research not only contributes to scientific advancements in the Netherlands but also benefits social well-being.

Furthermore, cooperation between China and the Netherlands is crucial for dealing with large-scale global challenges.

The article emphasizes that "decoupling" would further restrict their understanding of China's development. China is playing an increasingly important role in the economy, politics and science and that is something the world cannot ignore. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to understand China and work together with China. "Decoupling" is the worst option for scientific collaborations.

Research collaborations and exchanges with China contribute to maintaining dialogue between researchers from the Netherlands and China. As mentioned earlier, dialogue helps the Netherlands understand China's development. The fact that the world has entered an era of heightened geopolitical tensions suggests that maintaining dialogue through academic engagement is crucial.

The article concludes that scientific cooperation with China should not be viewed solely from a geopolitical or ideological perspective. Regardless of how complex the situation may be, it is essential for us to engage in scientific collaboration with China. Otherwise, the prospects for addressing societal and global issues, as well as the technological standing of the Netherlands, could rapidly deteriorate.