Its lead over the West is only set to widen
Catch up on global daily news
Compelling long reads
Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation
Tune into captivating conversations
Watch engaging short films
The world is focused on America’s lead but Beijing has the means, motive and opportunity to pull ahead
A network of ultra-competitive high-school talent streams has been turning out the leading lights of science and tech
Energy abundance, open-source models and manufacturing strengths will push Beijing into first place
A ferocious global arms race is big business
Once the world’s factory, Beijing’s relentless focus on R&D means the country has become the world’s laboratory
DeepSeek’s technology is being rapidly adopted across Africa and beyond, tech group’s research shows
