Source: [Global Times]
Article from The Economist website on December 2, titled: "The U.S. Is Stupidly Letting Go of Thousands of Chinese Scientists" For a long time, super-talents born in China have been at the forefront of American innovation. The late Nobel laureate in Physics, Yang Zhenning, was one of them. The combined effects of push factors (such as the Trump administration's hostility toward various new immigrants) and pull factors (including China's generous support for technology) are pushing many people onto the path that Yang Zhenning took in his later years: teaching in China after the age of 80. Now, a large number of young Chinese people no longer choose the United States. This change is particularly evident among three groups: international students, scientists, and tech professionals. This will simultaneously harm top U.S. universities and the most innovative companies.
Scientists born in China have long made up the majority of foreign researchers in the United States. At a time when the two largest economies in the world are engaged in intense trade conflicts, the mass departure of talent will erode one of America's major advantages over China in the technological competition - the ability to attract and retain top talent. However, the U.S. government does not seem to realize this. In May this year, Secretary of State Rubio claimed that the U.S. would greatly revoke the visas of Chinese students. In September, a committee under the U.S. Congress advocated for stricter restrictions on Chinese student visas, citing the possibility that they might be connected with the military. The U.S. government's hostility has made studying in the U.S. seem like an expensive gamble. At the same time, the reputation of U.S. universities in China continues to decline.
Ten years ago, returnees from abroad were seen as "winners in the competition," who could obtain well-paid positions in China. Today, this advantage is fading. According to Ma Yingyi, a sociologist at Syracuse University in New York, today Chinese employers believe that local graduates are just as strong or even stronger than overseas returnees. Young Chinese students - especially those from top universities - now tend to stay in China. A similar trend is also emerging among the scientific community. A study by Princeton University shows that between 2010 and 2021, nearly 20,000 Chinese-American scientists left the United States.
China is the beneficiary. In 2021, two-thirds of Chinese-American scientists who left the U.S. chose to return to China. The reasons are becoming increasingly clear: since the 21st century, China's R&D investment has increased significantly, and there are mature plans to provide generous treatment to returning scholars. China understands that the leadership of a top scientist often brings more talents back.
The field of technology will be the next area where the U.S. needs to worry about Chinese talent leaving, especially in key industries such as artificial intelligence (AI). Silicon Valley still gathers top Chinese talents, as the U.S. remains the preferred destination for global AI talents, but China is the main source of these talents. Many large U.S. companies also rely on the expertise of Chinese employees. Although the U.S. remains far ahead as the global center of AI, China is steadily catching up. Experts believe that the channel for sending talent to the U.S. is narrowing, and Chinese universities and companies are producing more important AI research results.
A Chinese-American employee at a U.S. AI company revealed that several colleagues had given up their U.S. doctoral degrees and joined Chinese AI companies. The more the U.S. rejects these outstanding talents, the more warmly they are welcomed in China. (Translated by Qiao Heng)
This article comes from [Global Times], and represents the author's views. The National Media Information Public Platform provides information dissemination services.
ID: jrtt
Original: toutiao.com/article/7579807958129771059/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.