| China’s government is reviewing impacts on the nation’s scientific research after President Donald Trump’s moves to withdraw funding from some US agencies and halt publication of certain categories of data. Several Chinese ministries and bodies have in recent weeks started assessing potential disruption to their work, and made efforts to determine the extent to which some activities have become reliant on data published by the US, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified to discuss details that aren’t public. Agencies carrying out reviews include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Meteorological Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, one of the people said. One area of work facing potential disruption has been studies of coral bleaching in the South China Sea, according to another person. Chinese researchers had used a US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration product that published coastal water temperatures, which was decommissioned last month, the person said.  Reef fishes swim over a reef affected by coral bleaching. Photographer: Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty Images The move comes as Beijing and Washington have been working to get bilateral relations back on track, with negotiators agreeing on a framework to ease trade tensions and revive the flow of sensitive goods between the world’s two largest economies. But details are scarce and many issues remain unresolved, including China’s massive trade surplus with the US. Reviews being carried out by the Chinese ministries will examine if domestic sources can replace the use of US data that’s now unavailable, the people said. Investigations are being conducted quietly to avoid giving the US any potential bargaining chip, according to the people. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Meteorological Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Beijing has sought in recent years to reduce its dependence on foreign sources for critical technology and products. In the US, job losses and funding cuts have impacted the collection and availability of data in fields like climate, weather and health. Hundreds of employees have been fired at NOAA as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to shrink the federal government. NOAA declined to comment on whether the removal of data products and websites has impacted cooperation with other countries, including China. The agency said coastal water temperature data remains available in other formats. The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment. The coastal water temperature guide made data “easier for scientists or interested lay people to see it and analyze it,” said Craig McLean, an ocean researcher who worked at NOAA for decades before retiring in 2022. Without the original presentation, “it could be a more complicated journey” for anyone trying to use and make sense of the information, he said. Read the full story as it appeared on Bloomberg.com. --With assistance from Mary Hui, Zahra Hirji and Jing Li | 
