China and the United States are in fierce competition! China has the upper hand in three of the four major fields, competing in quantum technology | quantum | technology
According to the Singapore Straits Times website on July 16th, a new intense competition is unfolding between the United States and China, based on the prospects of quantum science.
"Quantum computing is likely to become a significant battlefield for competition between the United States and China, as it is directly related to the field of security. The innovation competition among researchers in this field is becoming increasingly fierce, and they need to further develop practical technologies," said Kiyoshi Okai, an expert at Stanford University in the United States
According to reports, in February this year, the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy Research released a report stating that the United States only leads China in one of the four major fields of quantum technology: quantum computing.
China has the upper hand in three other fields: quantum encryption, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. China's dominant position can be seen from its launch of the Mozi satellite.
▲ Image: A quantum satellite model of the "Mozi" spacecraft captured at the Anhui Innovation Museum.
According to the report, the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy Studies warned that China's communication is increasingly likely to "avoid monitoring by Western intelligence agencies... This reduces the ability to develop emergency plans in the event of confrontation and tension.".
The report points out that one consolation for the United States is its leading position in the field of quantum computing, but recent achievements in China indicate that its advantage is shrinking.
Moreover, China has made up its mind to take a big action. In October 2020, Chinese leaders emphasized the importance of quantum technology in promoting high-quality development and ensuring national security.
![China and the United States are in fierce competition! China has the upper hand in three of the four major fields, competing in quantum technology | quantum | technology](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/c4cf8ca941ff52d23915c83e62dfbff0.jpg)
According to statistics from the Japan Agency for Science and Technology Revitalization, from 1990 to 2021, China held approximately 2700 quantum technology patents, leading the world; The United States holds approximately 2200 patents, ranking second; Japan ranks third, but with only 885 patents, far behind the top two.
According to reports, in October 2022, the United States attempted to obstruct China's acquisition of technological advantages and imposed export controls on China's chip industry.
Some observers believe that there may be more trade restrictions in the future, which may specifically target quantum computing hardware or error correction software.
According to reports, Vivek Mahajan, Chief Technology Officer of Fujitsu in Japan, believes that such restrictions are expected.
Mahajan said, "There will always be competition. Different people compete for leadership positions, which is beneficial for development. But we are closely monitoring geopolitics, and we clearly need to consider these factors."
The progress and competition of quantum technology will inevitably drive innovation.
However, like all emerging technologies, we still cannot determine who will be the winner.