1/3/2025
A recent experience made me reflect on a big difference between Chinese children growing up in America and those raised in China. When we suggested helping my daughter purchase an apartment in Brooklyn, she flatly refused, insisting she would do it herself. In contrast, most of her peers in China, including my relatives in Beijing, fully expect financial assistance from their parents when buying a home.
Back to today’s topic, towards the end of 2024, I came across an article in The Economist, “China is catching up with America in quantum technology.” The piece opens with a striking anecdote:
"In a small shop in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei, one of the rarest pieces of technology in the world is on display. The quantum computer in the showroom of Origin, a Chinese startup, looks ready to be plucked from the shelf and fired up. Only 20 such devices are produced globally each year. It is unclear what in Origin’s showroom is for sale, but none of it is supposed to be seen by foreigners. During your correspondent’s visit, which was agreed on in advance, the company panicked at the sight of a foreigner, abruptly cancelled interviews and notified the police."
This engaging introduction captures the reader's attention and vividly illustrates the secrecy and geopolitical tension surrounding quantum technology.
The article delves into several key points:
1. Sensitivity and Strategic Importance: The article emphasizes the profound importance of quantum technology, comparing its geopolitical significance to weapons manufacturing. As it notes, "Few industries outside of weapons manufacturing are so sensitive."
2. Categorized Analysis: By dividing the quantum field into three areas—communications, sensing, and computing—the piece provides a clear framework. It highlights China’s leadership in quantum communications, competitiveness in sensing, and relative lag in computing.
3. Acknowledging China’s Achievements: The article recognizes China as the "undisputed leader in quantum communications" and acknowledges its competitiveness in quantum sensing. This reflects a degree of respect for China's advancements in these sophisticated areas.
4. Framing the U.S.-China Competition: The article juxtaposes China's progress against America's dominance in quantum computing, particularly through innovations by American firms like Google. This framing underscores the high stakes of this technological race.
5. Surprise and Strategic Anxiety: The tone conveys both surprise and a sense of unease about China's rapid rises in a field with profound geopolitical and military implications, portraying China's progress and advancements as a challenge to the West's longstanding supremacy.
There is a Chinese saying, “不鸣则已，一鸣惊人” (bù míng zé yǐ, yī míng jīng rén) "A bird has been silent for a long time, but astonishes all when it finally sings." It describes someone who remains quiet or low-profile for a period, only to shock or impress the world with a sudden and significant achievement. It perfectly aligns with China’s quiet yet steady advancements in quantum technology, which now cause the U.S. to be taken aback by the speed of progress. It emphasizes surprise and the dramatic shift in perception.
In essence, the profound "strategic anxiety" felt in the U.S., serves as a mirror to China’s remarkable advancements in quantum technology. As China cements its leadership in quantum communications and remains competitive in sensing, its rapid progress in a field with transformative potential is challenging the technological supremacy which the U.S. has long taken for granted.
This anxiety underscores the stakes of the quantum race, where breakthroughs could potentially redefine global power dynamics, military capabilities, and economic dominance. Rather than praising China's strides in innovation, the article serves as a wake-up call to the West.