By Jeffrey A. Newman Esq.
At the same time that the Administration is cutting grants for science medicine and quantum computing , the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has announced a significant increase in science and technology expenditures. While announcing China’s annual budget, Chinese premier Li Qiang unveiled a planned 8.3 percent increase in science and technology spending, along with a 6.1 percent increase in education spending and a 7.2 percent increase in defense spending.
Buttressed by these projected increases, senior CCP officials, including President Xi, called on Chinese firms and institutions to embrace scientific and technological innovation. Having long pushed for China to become a global leader in science and technology, President Xi emphasized the role of the country’s educational system in building China into a “science and technology great power.”
Given the U.S. funding cuts and restrictive policies that have stalled many research projects, have we sufficiently considered the risk that China will capitalize on this reduction by enlisting top scientific minds-both returning Chinese scientists and others attracted by better resources and funding-to accelerate its progress in AI and other critical technologies?
Importantly, China is also actively recruiting top scientific talent, including many Chinese-origin scientists who have been leaving the U.S. in significant numbers since 2018, with over 19,000 returning home. This “reverse brain drain” strengthens China’s capabilities in AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology, aided by large government subsidies far exceeding U.S. federal quantum funding.
The Critical Technology Tracker ranks the US first in quantum computing, with seven of the top 10 institutions based in the US. However, quantum technologies are priority areas for China, which unveiled its most advanced quantum computer, a 504-Qubit Superconductor, in December 2024. In 2022, the NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships was set up to accelerate the implementation of NSF-funded discoveries from research to new industries, especially in technologies where the US faced the greatest competition. According to Reuters, the directorate lost 20 percent of its staff last week.
Sam Howell a research assistant with the Technology and National Security program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). You can find her on Twitter @Sam_Howell15. Recently, she wrote in the Diplomat: Like other emerging technologies, quantum has become a crux of China-U.S. competition. The first country to operationalize quantum technologies will possess a toolkit of capabilities that can overwhelm unprepared adversaries. Quantum-enabled countries could crack existing encryption methods, build unbreakable encrypted communications networks, and develop the world’s most precise sensors. The country leading in quantum will be able to threaten adversaries’ corporate, military, and government information infrastructure faster than an adversary can implement effective defenses.
For now, the United States maintains superiority in the development of quantum computing and quantum sensing capabilities. But China is gaining momentum, already leading in the development of quantum communications and total number of quantum technology patents. Multiple Chinese strategy documents include quantum-related initiatives, reflecting the technology’s perceived importance to Chinese national, information, and cybersecurity….
There are critical National secuity issues. According to quantum physicist Michal Krelina, “Quantum technology does not bring fundamentally new weapons or stand-alone military systems, but rather significantly enhances measurement capability, sensing, precision and computation power, and efficiency of the current and future military technology.”
Jeffrey Newman is a whistleblower lawyer representing doctors, nurses and therapists who have become whistleblowers reporting Medicare and Medicaid fraud in False Claims Act (Qui Tam) cases. He also represents whistleblowers in tax evasion cases and tariff fraud cases. He is also a frequent writer on issues relating to events affecting the world economy. Jeff can be reached at Jeff@JeffNewmanLaw.com or at 617-823-3217
