{
  "id": 5648449,
  "title": "What Sputnik couldn’t do to American science, Beijing has",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/what-sputnik-couldnt-do-to-american-science-beijing-has",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-04T21:30:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Tech",
    "slug": "scmp-tech",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3366099/what-sputnik-couldnt-do-american-science-beijing-has"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has embraced a strategy to secure technological leadership, which is now viewed as a security objective rather than an economic advantage. This shift in perspective is exemplified by the country's investment in key firms and personnel, such as Intel, US Steel, US$400 million in MP Materials, and stakes in 30 firms valued at US$26.7 billion. In 2025, Nvidia and AMD reduced their China chip sale revenues to 15% in exchange for export licences. The US government's National Security Science and Technology Strategy, introduced on August 18, emphasizes the importance of avoiding contests where adversaries can easily counter US moves and refrains from spending on replicating what rivals have already built better. The strategy targets three domains – undersea, space, artificial intelligence, and autonomy – while promoting alignment through milestone contracts with competing vendors, expedited clearances, and streamlined collaborations between laboratories, firms, and departments. Universities are also integrated into this structure. However, the strategy faces challenges, such as a rule cap on student visas at four years, which deters collaborations and diverts funds away from unnamed sectors. The US recognizes that technological leadership cannot be achieved solely through control over resources like Intel or fabrication plants; it relies on attracting top-tier global talent and providing them with the freedom to innovate.",
  "summary": "The US government owns 9.9 per cent of Intel, converted out of US Chips Act grants, alongside a golden share in US Steel, US$400 million in the rare earth mining firm MP Materials and stakes in roughly 30 firms worth US$26.7 billion. In 2025, Nvidia and AMD gave up 15 per cent of their China chip sale revenues in exchange for export licences. The country that spent four decades advising its…",
  "key_points": [
    "US adopts strategy to secure technological leadership as security priority.",
    "2025 Nvidia and AMD limit China chip sales to 15% for export licences.",
    "National Security Strategy focuses on undersea, space, AI, and autonomy domains."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "What Sputnik couldn’t do to American science, Beijing has",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/what-sputnik-couldnt-do-to-american-science-beijing-has-5649753",
        "published": "2026-09-04T21:30:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}