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Studies in the History of Natural Sciences  2021, Vol. 40 Issue (1): 77-90    DOI:
ARTICLES     
“Leaving Some Wiggle Room” and “Pursuing Cooperation”: China-US Scientific and Technological Exchanges in Earthquake from 1971 to 1979
ZHANG Jingfei
Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, CAS, Beijing 100190, China;
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Abstract  In the process of normalization of China-US relations, scientific and technological exchanges came first, and played an important role in promoting bilateral relations, while also being restricted by it. Given the disparity in the level of science and technology between China and the US, earthquake prediction was one of the few areas in which both sides had their own strengths, and became a highlight of China-US scientific and technological exchanges. Owing to the lack of formal diplomatic relations and confidentiality restrictions, the exchanges between the Chinese and American seismological communities had been hampered, and the attitudes of the two sides were also completely different. While actively engaging in exchanges, the American were pursuing cooperation in earthquake science and technology. However, the Chinese had always adhered to the principle of “propagating actively, no boasting, and leaving some wiggle room”, and only engaged in scientific and technological exchanges, refusing to formally cooperate. This article attempts to analyze the details of China-US exchanges on earthquake prediction, and reflects on the complicated interrelationships between scholarly exchanges and politics and diplomacy.

Key words： History of earth sciences      earthquake prediction      scientific and technological exchanges      normalization of China-US relationship     
Received: 09 October 2020      Published: 27 January 2022
ZTFLH:  N092  
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ZHANG Jingfei. “Leaving Some Wiggle Room” and “Pursuing Cooperation”: China-US Scientific and Technological Exchanges in Earthquake from 1971 to 1979. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 77-90.

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http://www.shns.ac.cn/     OR     http://www.shns.ac.cn/Y2021/V40/I1/77

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