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When open science meets closed borders

The nature of basic science makes it harder for sanctions to work

Lab workers at a new Sinovac factory in Beijing built to produce a Covid-19 vaccine. Sinovac is one of 11 Chinese companies approved to carry out clinical trials of potential vaccines for the coronavirus. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Lab workers at a new Sinovac factory in Beijing built to produce a Covid-19 vaccine. Sinovac is one of 11 Chinese companies approved to carry out clinical trials of potential vaccines for the coronavirus. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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A: China has been fast ascending the world league table of science. According to the latest Nature Index, which is based on total publications in 82 top science journals, including Cell, Nature, and Science, China ranks second globally, after the US.

The index also shows that China has been narrowing the gap with the US: With total research output measured by a fractional count of total publications, which gives each co-author an equal share of the article she contributes to, Chinese scientists produced 37 per cent as much as their American counterparts did in 2015; that ratio went up to 67 per cent last year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 10, 2020, with the headline When open science meets closed borders. Subscribe