That destroys international security

Quantum researchers in China claim to have an algorithm capable of breaking public-key encryption, years before anyone expected. Accurate or not, the announcement serves as a reminder that surprising quantum breakthroughs are possible in the near term. If the Biden administration is serious about its designation of quantum information science (QIS) as a critical technology area for national security, it must do more to safeguard U.S. quantum superiority.

QIS uses the laws of quantum physics, which describes the properties of nature on a tiny scale, to advance the processing, analysis, and transmission of information. Quantum computing, quantum encryption, and quantum sensing constitute the three primary domains within QIS. Although it is an evolving field, QIS promises to transform almost any industry dependent on speed and processing power, from aerospace and automotive to finance and pharmaceuticals.

Like other emerging technologies, quantum has become a crux of China-U.S. competition. The first country to operationalize quantum technologies will possess a toolkit of capabilities that can overwhelm unprepared adversaries. Quantum-enabled countries could crack existing encryption methods, build unbreakable encrypted communications networks, and develop the world’s most precise sensors. The country leading in quantum will be able to threaten adversaries’ corporate, military, and government information infrastructure faster than an adversary can implement effective defenses.

Quantum technologies also carry immense potential market value, with quantum computing alone expected to reach a global market value of $1 trillion by 2035. The first country to commercialize quantum will have an upper hand in establishing market dominance, developing quantum governance models, and pursuing novel quantum applications. Because quantum is an enabling technology, advancement in QIS may also catalyze a series of disruptive innovations in other profitable technology areas, such as artificial intelligence.

For now, the United States maintains superiority in the development of quantum computing and quantum sensing capabilities. But China is gaining momentum, already leading in the development of quantum communications and total number of quantum technology patents. Multiple Chinese strategy documents include quantum-related initiatives, reflecting the technology’s perceived importance to Chinese national, information, and cybersecurity.

China recently achieved several significant quantum enhancements. In August 2022, Chinese technology company Baidu unveiled its first quantum computer, which uses quantum bits, or qubits, to perform complex calculations at extraordinary speeds. Quantum computers could allow China to break modern encryption protocols, accelerate machine learning research, and improve optimization and simulation processes.

China is improving in quantum communication and sensing as well. China has operationalized multiple quantum-enabled satellites, taking steps toward establishing secure ground-to-space quantum communications networks. Chinese scientists also allegedly engineered a quantum-based radar capable of penetrating stealth military technologies, which have served as the foundation of the U.S. military’s air superiority and most advanced submarines for decades.