Key facts
- Chinese academics are struggling to translate area studies research into policy.
- The EU is increasingly viewing research cooperation with China as a security issue.
- EU research policy changes aim to safeguard strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security.
- Chinese entities face restrictions in participating in EU research funding programs like Horizon Europe.
- A study analyzed EU policy documents and Chinese official statements to track changes in research governance.
- US think tanks are increasingly portraying a military conflict over Taiwan as imminent, according to Chinese scholars.
Chinese academics are facing difficulties in translating their research on international affairs into policy, a conference in Beijing revealed. Speakers highlighted the need for a deeper understanding of other nations as China's global engagement expands. Concurrently, the European Union has been increasingly scrutinizing research cooperation with China, viewing it as a security concern. A study found that between 2021 and 2025, the EU has implemented stricter rules, including screening and exclusion, for knowledge flows with China, framing them as strategically sensitive resources. This shift is part of the EU's "de-risking" agenda, impacting research governance and participation in programs like Horizon Europe. Meanwhile, a separate analysis by Chinese scholars examined how major U.S. think tanks perceive the Taiwan Strait, noting an increased portrayal of imminent conflict and calls for greater Western involvement in Taiwan's security.