“留有余地”与“寻求合作”:中美地震科技交流(1971—1979)

“Leaving Some Wiggle Room”and“Pursuing Cooperation”:China-US Scientific and Technological Exchanges in Earthquake from 1971 to 1979

20世纪70年代,在中美关系正常化的进程中,科技交流先行,既推动着两国政治关系的发展,又深受两国政治关系的制约。中美科技水平悬殊,地震预报是当时为数不多的双方各有所长、优势互补的领域之一,成为两国科技交流的一个焦点。20多年的隔绝,致使中美地震学界的交流阻碍重重,双方的态度也截然不同。美方在积极进行交流的同时,努力寻求开展实质性的中美地震科技合作,而中方始终以“既要积极宣传,又不要自吹自擂,要留有余地”为原则,并坚持在两国建交之前不进行正式合作。中美双方地震学界的交流是建交前中美关系的一个缩影。文章通过梳理中美地震预报交流的过程,剖析交流中的细节与具体问题,折射科技交流与政治、外交的复杂关系。

In the process of normalization of China-US relations,scientific and technological exchanges came first,and played an important role in promoting bilateral relations,while also being restricted by it.Given the disparity in the level of science and technology between China and the US,earthquake prediction was one of the few areas in which both sides had their own strengths,and became a highlight of China-US scientific and technological exchanges.Owing to the lack of formal diplomatic relations and confidentiality restrictions,the exchanges between the Chinese and American seismological communities had been hampered,and the attitudes of the two sides were also completely different.While actively engaging in exchanges,the American were pursuing cooperation in earthquake science and technology.However,the Chinese had always adhered to the principle of“propagating actively,no boasting,and leaving some wiggle room”,and only engaged in scientific and technological exchanges,refusing to formally cooperate.This article attempts to analyze the details of China-US exchanges on earthquake prediction,and reflects on the complicated interrelationships between scholarly exchanges and politics and diplomacy.