Beating China in the Race for Quantum Supremacy

Dustin Carmack

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How the United States positions itself for success in the era of quantum computing, sensing, and encryption will have ramifications for the future of manufacturing, the development of medical cures, the national security needs of the military, the ability to protect information, and more. In addition, which country reaches quantum supremacy first will determine global power dynamics. The United States cannot allow power to be centralized in the hands of one actor, especially the Chinese Communist Party. For the U.S. to lead in quantum technology, it must employ a whole-of-government and whole-of-industry approach alongside foreign allies and partners. While many challenges remain in bringing quantum technology to scale, the scientific race and outcome amongst nations, militaries, academia, and technology companies will define the 21st century.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The U.S. and China are in a pivotal race to achieve quantum technology supremacy and capabilities that will have national security and commercial ramifications.

Quantum technology will change how the government and commercial sector communicate, enhance sensory capabilities, and revolutionize computing sciences.

Washington must take action to win this race, while also preparing for a surging and capable China with quantum prowess that threatens U.S. national security.

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China’s potential to eclipse the United States in a quantum-technology arms race is an issue of acute concern to U.S. national security. Within the past decade, China has identified quantum capabilities as a mission-critical technology for its economic and national security measures. China’s developments in the quantum arena have drawn a heavy-handed response from the United States, with the Department of Commerce placing multiple Chinese quantum computing (QC) firms on an export blacklist and the Department of Defense (DOD) issuing a memorandum calling on the public and private sector to develop and adopt post-quantum encryption standards.