Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

The international mathematics community is signaling a significant shift in global academic collaboration, with a substantial number of scholars choosing to boycott the upcoming ICM in Philadelphia. This movement, spearheaded by a petition signed by over 2,300 mathematicians from 76 nations, reflects a growing sentiment that political actions of a host country can and should impact its privilege to host major international events. The comparison drawn to the objections raised against Russia hosting the ICM due to its invasion of Ukraine is particularly telling, framing the US's current international conduct as equally disqualifying. From a Chinese perspective, this situation highlights a potential divergence in how global political actions are perceived and acted upon by different academic communities. While Western media might focus on the specifics of the US government's policies, the petition's broader framing suggests a principle-based objection that transcends specific political disputes. The call to move the ICM out of the US is not merely a protest against American foreign policy but a statement about the ethical responsibilities of nations and the international academic community's role in upholding global norms. This boycott could signal a broader trend of academics prioritizing ethical considerations over traditional geopolitical alignments when selecting venues for international conferences.

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Just as many mathematicians objected to Russia’s hosting of ICM on the basis of its invasion of Ukraine, we argue that the current American government disqualifies the US from hosting the ICM in 2026.