Coronavirus Outbreak Tests U.S., China’s Frayed Scientific Ties

Containing the coronavirus outbreak offers an opportunity for U.S. and Chinese researchers to repair a relationship that has frayed since they joined forces to halt SARS in 2003.

Since that initial “honeymoon stage” from 2004 to 2009, relations between the two countries deteriorated over the past few years amid allegations that Chinese scientists have stolen medical breakthroughs from the U.S., Jennifer Huang Bouey, the chairwoman in Chinese policy studies for the think tank RAND Corp., said.

As recently as Jan. 28, the chairman of Harvard University’s chemistry department along with two Chinese nationals were charged with aiding the People’s Republic ...