-
China leads the US in research on 37 of 44 key technologies Tracked by an Australian think tank.
-
These important emerging technologies span a wide range of fields, including defense, space and energy.
-
China’s research lead in these areas could have implications for democracies.
Canberra-based independent think tank says China has a ‘surprising lead’ over the US in high-impact research across critical and emerging technologies Australian Strategic Policy Institute, or ASPI.
The world’s second-largest economy leads the United States in research into 44 critical and emerging technologies across defense, space, energy, and biotechnology, including advanced aircraft engines, drones, and more. , which includes battery research. Thursday report. The US State Department funded part of this research.
In several fields, ASPI found that all of the world’s top 10 research institutes are in China, compiling nine times more influential research papers than the second-ranked country (often the United States). I discovered that the In particular, China has an edge in defense and space-related technology, he said.
“Western democracies are losing out in the global technological race, including the race for scientific and research breakthroughs,” said the report, led by Jamie Gaida, a senior analyst at the Institute. Stated.
ASPI is China’s lead Xi Jinping administration and those who came before him.
The report’s authors warned that China’s research dominance in strategic areas could have a negative impact on democracies.
In the short term, this lead could allow China to “control the global supply of certain critical technologies.” In the long run, China’s leadership position could give it an edge in nearly every area, including technologies that don’t yet exist, according to ASPI.
“If left unchecked, global power and influence, as well as technological development and control, could shift to authoritarian states, where the development, testing, and application of critical emerging military technologies could occur. It is not open and transparent and cannot be scrutinized by independent civil society and media,” the think tank said.
ASPI calls on governments around the world to step up research cooperation and investment to catch up with China. It also recommended measures such as visa screening for visitors to research facilities to limit “illegal technology transfers” to China, and the government said the movement of researchers who are experts in strategic fields would be “narrow.” ‘limitations’ need to be considered.
“For example, hiring someone to lead a defense-related technology research program in a hostile country poses a clear threat to the country’s national security,” ASPI said. He added that serious national security risks must be identified before any restrictions on movement are implemented, as they must be weighed against the right to freedom of movement of persons.
The Chinese embassy in Washington, DC did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Read the original article at business insider