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?