{
  "id": 12356164,
  "title": "Not just AI. China is building technologies that challenge U.S. dominance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/not-just-ai-china-is-building-technologies-that-challenge-u-s",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-06T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Rest of World Tech",
    "slug": "rest-of-world-tech",
    "url": "https://restofworld.org/2026/china-america-tech-ai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "While China is locked in a fierce competition with the U.S. for AI dominance, the country is rapidly advancing in various other future technologies. In 2024, Chinese investors allocated nearly $1 trillion for clean-energy infrastructure, such as renewables, electricity grids, and energy storage. Consequently, China now manufactures 70% of the world's electric vehicles (EVs), and its companies account for 80%-85% of global solar photovoltaic production and over 75% of battery manufacturing.\n\nRenowned Columbia University scholar Tim Wu observes, \"If we set AI aside for a moment and assume that these technologies represent the future, it is clear who is ahead.\" A 2025 analysis by Australia's Strategic Policy Institute, known as the \"Critical Technology Tracker,\" corroborates this assessment. The tracker assesses China and the U.S. research capabilities across 74 current and emerging technologies. According to the latest data, China leads research in nearly 90% of these crucial fields, including nuclear energy, synthetic biology, and small satellites.\n\nThis shift represents a \"drastic reversal\" from the early 2000s, when American scientists held a significant advantage in the majority of assessed technologies. In the intervening 25 years, Chinese researchers have flipped the scientific balance. However, it's essential to note that the researchers measured research outputs, not the practical deployment or application of technology. For instance, publishing theoretical concepts is different from developing a manufacturing process and producing tangible products. While China excels in fields like jet engine technology, the translation of research into manufacturing remains a challenge.\n\nChina's success in consumer drones, exemplified by the company Da Jiang Innovations (DJI) headquartered in Shenzhen, provides further evidence of its rising technological prowess. DJI holds over 70% of the global consumer drone market, with revenues expected to reach $55.8 billion by 2030. Founded in 2006 by Frank Wang, DJI began with drone control systems for hobbyists and later introduced the first preassembled \"ready-to-fly\" drone, the Phantom 1, in 2013. This affordable and feature-rich product quickly gained popularity, becoming a standard tool for first responders, hobbyists, and military forces alike. DJI's dominance is attributed not only to Wang's resourcefulness and perseverance but also to substantial state subsidies and a competitive domestic drone ecosystem. These factors have provided Chinese manufacturers with cost advantages and access to advanced components at reduced prices that would be prohibitively expensive for foreign competitors. Unfortunately, the geopolitical landscape has cast a shadow over DJI's future in the United States. In December 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blacklisted all new foreign-made drones and components from being sold in the U.S. due to concerns over national security risks. Although the rule does not directly target DJI, the implication is clear: the company's products are no longer welcome in the U.S. market. The FCC's decision leaves DJI's fate uncertain for American interests as Chinese dominance in various technologies becomes increasingly evident.",
  "summary": "From batteries and solar panels to drones and satellites, China is building tech capabilities that extend well beyond AI, writes Steve Feldstein in his new book, \"Bytes and Bullets: Global Rivalries, Big Tech, and the New Shape of Modern Warfare.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}