Exclusive | China wants academics and think tank members to help defuse tensions with US
- Beijing has eased restrictions on budgets and how long researchers can stay in United States for some state-backed think tanks and experts, sources say
China is encouraging think tank members and academics to go to the United States for exchanges and research trips as it tries to find ways to de-escalate tensions with Washington, according to sources familiar with the situation.
In recent months, the authorities have loosened restrictions on budgets and how long researchers can stay in the United States for some government-backed think tanks and specialists familiar with US-China relations, said one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.
They added that one of the challenges for Beijing was the difficulty of conveying its message to the conservative think tanks that have influence over the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The lifting of the travel restriction for a small number of academics comes as China and the United States are making efforts to break the trade war deadlock.
“The leadership has called for public diplomacy or non-official contact with Americans to get a clearer picture of the US thinking on China and to find alternative communication channels,” said a second source, who also declined to be named.