The U.S. government sometimes supports international research collaborations by providing funding to foreign entities—such as universities and public health organizations. This also gives U.S. researchers access to global scientific resources.
The Government Accountability Office has found that from FY 2015 to 2021, federal agencies provided $28.9 million directly to Chinese entities for research and development activities. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health awarded funds to China for drug development and vaccination studies.
This funding resulted in scientific articles, data collection systems, and international workshops. Awards funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health focused on multiple scientific disciplines, including public health and biological sciences. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health funded Chinese entities to conduct a wide range of research, including disease surveillance, vaccination studies, and the development of new drugs. Additionally, the Department of Defense funded research in areas such as alternative technologies to propel vehicles such as drones. These awards provided directly to Chinese entities resulted in scientific articles, data collection systems, and international workshops.
The U.S. government, along with other donors, provides funding to some multilateral institutions—such as the United Nations. Multilateral institutions support activities worldwide, including in China, in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, and economic development. According to State and Treasury officials, multilateral institutions specify how funding should be used, and which countries should receive funding.
