“The War for Chinese Talent in America”: A Conversation with Dr. David Zweig

The podcast explores the competition between the U.S. and China for global talent and technology, particularly focusing on China's strategies to attract Chinese talent back home and the U.S.'s evolving concerns about technology transfer. Dr. David Zweig, author of "The War for Chinese Talent and Technology," discusses China's policy shifts, from Deng Xiaoping's initial open-door policy to the more assertive strategies under Xi Jinping, including the Thousand Talents Plan and the role of the United Front Work Department. The conversation highlights the U.S.'s response, including the China Initiative and its impact on collaborative research, fueled by concerns over dual-use technology and intellectual property theft. It also addresses the ethical considerations and potential drawbacks of curtailed scientific collaboration, especially in fields like cancer research, and the need for open dialogue between the two countries.