China and the US are locked in a quantum leap race

China and the United States are locked in a high-tech battle that resembles the “nuclear rivalry” between Moscow and Washington during the Cold War.

In a race against time, the latest frontier borders on the edge of science fiction and quantum physics, changing the technological landscape for generations.

“Whoever develops quantum computing first will have palpable military advantages in cryptology, detection and information processing, not to mention a symbolic victory,” the Mercator Institute for China Studies, or MERICS, said in a report last month.

“Since 2022, China [has published] more quantum-related research papers annually than any other country, including the United States,” the Berlin-based think tank revealed.

Massive state funding has seen China close the gap.

Blink and you will miss it:

• Quantum computing is a revolutionary technology.
• It can solve complex problems that have baffled scientists for centuries in seconds, minutes, hours or days.
• The ramifications and rewards of cracking this scientific conundrum are enormous.  

Delve deeper: Quantum technology has become the holy grail in Beijing’s push for tech supremacy. Since 2022, China has spent US$15 billion on research and industrial development in a move to catch up with the US.

Between the lines: “The world’s largest economy leads in quantum innovation, fueled by companies like Google, Microsoft and IBM, robust government funding and top-tier research institutions,” Voice of America reported at the weekend.

Big picture: Still, massive state funding has seen China close the gap by “establishing specialized research centers.”

China Factor comment: Apart from the obvious commercial applications of quantum technology, there are growing national security issues that dominate Sino-American relations. Losing the race is not an option for Washington or Beijing.