On the path of exploring science, it is important to collaborate and share. However, the Wolf Clause, which has been implemented by the United States since 2011, has completely cut off cooperation between China and the United States in the field of space. The provision prevents NASA and other space agencies from cooperating with China's China National Space Administration in any way, and even prohibits visitors from connecting with Chinese official backgrounds. The Wolf Clause was originally designed to prevent China from stealing U.S. technological achievements, but it lost the opportunity for cooperation and mutual benefit.
Recently, however, the United States has shown a strong interest in lunar soil samples from China. In 2020, China's lunar probe Chang'e-5 successfully collected 1,731 grams of lunar soil samples and brought them back to Earth. This is the first time since 1972 that a lunar probe has returned from the Moon, and it is completely different from the area of lunar soil samples collected by the United States. This makes the lunar soil samples brought back by Chang'e-5 have unique scientific value. In order to be able to study these samples, NASA applied to Congress and hoped to be able to bypass the Wolf Clause. While it is not yet known whether it will be approved by Congress, the application demonstrates the urgent need for Chinese lunar soil samples in the United States.
However, the arrogance and domineering attitude of the United States in lunar exploration is unacceptable. Although the United States once sent 382 kilograms of lunar soil samples to China, China received only 1 gram of samples. Now, when China is willing to open up lunar soil samples brought back by Chang'e-5 to international applications, the United States wants to cooperate with China only on one specific project, and not on other space programs.
The attitude of the United States is incredible. China does not rule out cooperation with other countries in the field of space, but the United States should reflect on its own behavior. The United States and scientists treat requests for cooperation with an arrogant and domineering attitude, probably forgetting the spirit of sharing science and knowledge. If the United States really wants to cooperate, they need to be more accommodating and open-minded, rather than blindly pursuing interests.
The Wolf Clause has not only affected the space cooperation between China and the United States, but has also brought great trouble to the scientific and aerospace circles in the United States. Even at scientific conferences, NASA refused the participation of Chinese postdocs, which brought great regret to American scientists. However, it will not be easy to repeal the Wolf Clause, especially given the current poor relations between China and the United States. Even if there were proposals to repeal the provision, it would be met with opposition from Republican lawmakers.
Since 2011, China's space industry has made rapid progress, from manned spaceflight to resident astronauts on space stations, from lunar exploration to bringing back lunar soil samples, every achievement has been the envy of the American scientific community. And now, the competition for the moon landing project is about to be staged again, and China and the United States will use the moon landing to demonstrate their respective technological and institutional advantages.
Cooperation and sharing are important driving forces for scientific development, but the Wolf Clause has blocked cooperation between China and the United States in the field of space. U.S. interest in samples of Chinese lunar soil reflects their desire for China's space achievements, but they may not be able to do so due to the arrogance and domineering attitudes of the past. For such a situation, we need to think more about how to promote cooperation and sharing, rather than restricting and **. As partners in human exploration of the universe, we should face the boundaries of science with an open mind and jointly promote the progress of human spaceflight. It is only through cooperation and sharing that we can go further together.