Latest publication by Nature: China leads in 90% of key technology research areas. According to the independent think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI):

1⃣ Absolute leadership: Among 64 cutting-edge key technologies, China is at the forefront globally in 57 (about 90%). This covers almost all critical fields including defense, space, robotics, energy, environment, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

2⃣ Leap in talent and research quality: This leadership is reflected not only in the “quantity” of papers but also in the production of “highly cited papers.” China's top research achievements in multiple technologies are several times those of the US, demonstrating China's significant investment in cultivating and attracting top scientific talent.

3⃣ Shifts over the past decade: At the beginning of this century, the US dominated most fields, but there has been a dramatic reversal over the past 20 years. Currently, the US remains ahead only in a few areas such as quantum computing, vaccine development, and semiconductor design, with the gap narrowing.

Additionally, by 2025, over half of AI researchers and developers at @meta@ are Chinese. Western countries are facing a “technology dependence” risk, especially in synthetic biology, battery technology, and 5G/6G communications.