Quantum mechanics has the potential to change the world beyond our wildest imagination. While there are many challenges that must first be overcome, quantum technology promises to revolutionize many areas of life from computing and finance to cryptography and drug discovery. Such endless possibilities have led many countries to create their own national quantum programmes to advance progress, which are supported by billions of dollars, pounds, euros or yuan.
The nation leading the race so far to harness the power of quantum technologies is China. The country has constructed a 2000 km quantum-secured fibre-optic network and in 2017 demonstrated quantum-secured satellite communications. In 2019 and 2020 China’s demonstration of “quantum advantage” – a critical threshold on the path to powerful quantum computers – further revealed a sophistication and acceleration of its quantum-information programme.
In both political and scientific circles, some are quick to dismiss China’s recent progress, viewing Chinese publications with scepticism and asserting that the country is a “paper tiger”. Yet a closer examination of published Chinese quantum research reveals a level of detail, results and collaboration with western researchers that suggest the tiger has teeth. The Chinese are indeed prioritizing and dominating the quantum space, with every intention of winning this technology race.
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