THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES recently passed an amendment saying scholars who are currently engaged or have taken part in talent projects of China, Iran or Russia may not get funds and other kinds of support from the US Department of Defense for research projects. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Monday:

The amendment is based on misinterpretation of or aimed at maligning China's talent projects. Although China produces about 8 million college graduates every year, and the Chinese governments at various levels have always tried to attract talents from around the world－a common practice in international talent exchange－the country has had a deficit in the talent trade since the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978.

Over the past 40 years, hundreds of thousands of Chinese students have chosen to work and live in developed countries after graduating from foreign universities. And large numbers of professionals in various fields have migrated to foreign countries in recent years.

This brain drain has resulted in a long-term talent deficit, with the lack of experts in some key fields of cutting-edge science and technology making it difficult for China to achieve breakthroughs in these fields.

Talent competition is an important part of international competition, and many countries have established special agencies to hunt for international talents. The United States, Germany, Singapore and the Republic of Korea have all made exemplary use of foreign talents to expedite their development.

For example, the US got more than 1,600 topnotch German scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians in a few years thanks to Operation Paperclip during and after World War II. These outstanding figures stoked the US' rise in fields such as medical care, nuclear power and aerospace after the war.

China's main aim now is to attract Chinese talents and professionals from abroad, and its search for talents will not be constrained by US policies.