Guiding science in China: Increasing emphasis on national priorities creates tension with curiosity-driven research

China’s emergence as a science power is extraordinary. China now publishes more scientific papers than any other country, and the impact of this research (although trickier to measure) is impressive (1). Despite China’s remarkable progress, its policymakers continue to grapple with a basic question that all countries face: how to balance between promoting research focused on national priorities and that driven by academic curiosity. This article begins by explaining how Chinese policy-makers have recently stepped up efforts to guide science in keeping with national priorities, including economic, environmental, and national security concerns. It then notes an important countercurrent, particularly the growing interest in “original innovation” and the appreciation that curiosity-driven research has a role to play in this regard. It concludes by noting that China is part of a broader international shift to leverage science for national purposes and by highlighting the risks this trend entails.