Oldest US-China science deal up in the air as Washington seeks to ‘amend terms’

Allowing a landmark US-China science research pact to lapse would be a loss for both countries, observers said, as Washington sought a six-month extension to the decades-old agreement due for renewal within days.

The 1979 Science and Technology Agreement was the first US-China accord to be signed after relations were normalised that year. It will expire on Sunday without administrative action to keep it alive.