International research collaboration is entering a more cautious phase as geopolitical tensions intensify, especially among nations competing for technological advantage. Nowhere is this shift more closely scrutinized than in relation to China. But evidence from within Chinese institutions suggests that rather than retreating from global science, China is reorganizing how it collaborates — and defence‑aligned universities and virtual research environments are predicted to play a central role. Nature Index 2026 China In interviews I had with 12 senior academics and administrators at Chinese universities in late 2025, the participants described a shift towards a system of collaboration that still seeks global partnerships, but which is anchored by domestic concerns. The model captures a tension between political pressure to restrict knowledge and data and reputational incentives to remain engaged in international collaboration.…