The Australian Institute for Strategic Policy (ASPI) recently released a report comparing the performance ofs United States and China in areas such as technology and innovation, with the development of novelties for the sectors.
The survey found that China led over Washington in 37 of 44 technologies critical and emerging issues, including some considered essential in important sectors of countries, such as defense, space, energy and biotechnology.
ASPI stated that the 10 most important research institutions in the world for some technologies are headquartered in China. As a result, nine times more research work is generated than the US, which is usually in second place in this race.
Therefore, ASPI highlighted that “Western democracies are losing the global technological competition”. The institute also noted that China has had considerable success in being able to retain some global talent to develop technologies.
This advance is part of long-term political planning by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who wants to control the most important technologies on the planet, including those that do not yet exist and are being thought of for the future.
China has excelled in new technologies related to space. An example of this is the DF-17B hypersonic missile, which surprised the US Department of Defense by reaching Mach 10 speed (ten times the speed of sound).
To lessen the current Chinese hegemony, ASPI recommends that governments implement subsidies, a revitalization of the university sector with specialized grants; new public-private partnerships, the creation of centers of excellence and other measures.