The U.S.-China tech battle may be at its fiercest over semiconductors. Credit: oldTor, Creative Commons
For much of the last century, America has been not just a superpower but the world’s pre-eminent technological power. It has led the way in the development of nuclear weapons, satellites and genomics. It has ventured deep into space and fueled the computing and internet revolutions. Now, however, a growing number of Americans believe that China is gaining on the U.S. through intellectual property theft as well as hard work and determination. Bolstered by its economic gains, China has developed capabilities in space, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare. Today, no contest appears more significant than the technological one, partly because the two countries see it as a competition between an authoritarian system and one that is liberal and democratic-minded. In the following primer, we explain what the U.S. government thinks about China’s position in high tech fields and how it is attempting to compete with China.
What is China doing to get ahead in emerging technologies?
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from David Barboza, Pulitzer Prize-winning former Shanghai correspondent for The New York Times.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
Increasingly, Democrats and Republicans believe that climate change and China pose a single interconnected challenge. As a result — and for the first time ever — a window is opening for bipartisan cooperation on climate policy. Historically progressive ideas like a 'carbon border adjustment mechanism' now have conservative champions, for instance. But with Washington's main focus on the Warming War with China, can it still save the planet?
A look at China’s electricity grid: how it works, who foots the bill, and how its structure leads to power crunches and expensive prices despite the relative abundance of energy in China.
The academic talks about the changing understanding of Leninist regimes; common misperceptions of the post-Mao era; and what the collapse of the Soviet Union means for China today.
