The tide of scientific and technological development is rolling forward, and in this protracted marathon, the competition between China and the United States is becoming more and more intense. The two sides have launched fierce competition in many fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and 5G, and the soaring number of semiconductor patent applications in China has aroused doubts from the outside world. This phenomenon reflects the deep changes in the comparison of scientific and technological strength between China and the United States, and it is worthy of our in-depth interpretation and consideration.
The number of patents in China is climbing
In recent years, China has seen a significant increase in the number of patent applications in high-tech fields such as semiconductors. According to the latest statistics, the number of semiconductor patent applications in China increased by 68% year-on-year in 2022, accounting for 37% of the total number of semiconductor patent applications in the world, which has more than doubled in the past five years. In terms of quantity, China's semiconductor patent applications have surpassed the United States and become the world's largest semiconductor patent filing country.
This change reflects the continuous improvement of China's scientific and technological strength. In the field of core technologies such as semiconductors, China is stepping up its independent innovation efforts to get rid of its long-term dependence on foreign countries. A large amount of capital and manpower has been invested in research and development in key areas, and the innovation vitality of Chinese scientific and technological personnel has been greatly released.
The South Korean media questioned this phenomenon. They believe that the surge in the number of Chinese patents is likely due to the intense pressure exerted by the United States on China. The United States has always regarded China as a strategic rival in the field of science and technology, and has continuously imposed severe sanctions on Chinese technology companies, restricting the export of key technologies and components, forcing China to increase its independent innovation.
U.S. pressure restrictions
In recent years, the United States has indeed increased its restrictions on China's science and technology. In the field of semiconductors, the United States has repeatedly revised its export control regulations, including a number of Chinese chip manufacturers on the "entity list" of export controls, prohibiting them from obtaining U.S. chip design tools and manufacturing equipment.
The United States has also used the "long-arm jurisdiction" method to require global chip manufacturers such as TSMC and Samsung not to export advanced artificial intelligence and supercomputer chips to China without permission from the US government.
In the field of 5G communications, the United States has also severely suppressed Chinese companies such as Huawei. In addition to adding Huawei to the "Entity List" for export controls, the United States has mobilized allies to boycott Huawei's 5G equipment, and even threatened economic sanctions on countries that purchase Huawei equipment.
In emerging technology fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, the United States has also imposed a strict technical blockade on Chinese companies. China and the United States have launched a protracted "new Cold War" contest in many fields of science and technology.
In the face of extreme pressure from the United States, China has to increase its independent innovation, achieve breakthroughs in key core technologies, and get rid of its long-standing dependence on foreign countries. This has also directly contributed to the surge in patent applications in China in areas such as semiconductors.
Comparison of power between China and the United States
From the perspective of overall scientific and technological strength, the United States still maintains a leading position in many fields. According to the latest scientific and technological innovation rankings, the United States ranks among the top in the world in many fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, biotechnology, and new materials.
Taking artificial intelligence as an example, the United States is in a leading position in terms of computing resources, basic theoretical research, and application scenarios. Technology giants such as Google and OpenAI have the world's strongest AI computing power, attracting a large number of the world's top talents. Famous universities such as Stanford, MIT, and California Institute of Technology are leading the way in the basic theoretical research of artificial intelligence; Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem also provides a broad space for AI applications.
But China's catch-up is picking up in a number of tech areas. Taking semiconductors as an example, Chinese mainland already has a complete integrated circuit industry chain, from design to manufacturing to packaging and testing. With the help of large-scale market and policy support, China's semiconductor industry has developed rapidly, and has approached or surpassed the international advanced level in memory chips, radio frequency chips and other subdivisions.
In the field of artificial intelligence, Chinese companies such as Baidu, SenseTime, and Horizon have also made great strides in algorithm models and chip design, and are expected to narrow the gap with the United States in the next few years.
The U.S.-China technology competition is likely to be long-lasting, with the two sides competing in a variety of fields, and the outcome will have a direct impact on the evolution of the global technology landscape.
Other countries reacted
In addition to China and the United States, other major science and technology countries are also increasing their investment in science and technology so as not to fall behind in the new round of science and technology revolution.
The European Union proposed the "Chips Act" plan, which intends to invest 43 billion euros in the next few years to increase local chip production capacity; Japan also announced that it will invest 50 billion yen to support the development of the domestic semiconductor industry.
In the field of artificial intelligence, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other countries have introduced national AI strategies and formulated support policies to attract global talents.
Technological competition has become a top priority for major countries around the world. The growth in the number of patents is partly a reflection of a country's innovation dynamism, but the quality of patents is equally crucial. It's not enough to simply pursue quantity, the key is whether it can produce real core innovations.
Looking at the overall situation of the Sino-US science and technology competition, we can find that this marathon race is entering a white-hot stage. The two sides are competing fiercely in a number of areas, and China's catch-up pace is accelerating in some areas.
This kind of competition has undoubtedly brought a complex situation of both opportunities and challenges to both sides. On the one hand, healthy competition is conducive to promoting scientific and technological innovation and improving the global scientific and technological level; On the other hand, excessive confrontation could also have negative consequences and exacerbate the fragmentation of the global technology landscape.
We need to look at this change rationally, and strengthen international cooperation while insisting on independent innovation to achieve win-win development. Technology knows no borders, and the fate of mankind is interconnected. Only through inclusiveness, openness and cooperation can we fully unleash the positive energy of science and technology for the benefit of all mankind.