China Has 'Convincing' Lead in AUKUS-Related Tech, Think Tanks Says

China leads in a range of technologies that will be “highly relevant” to technology sharing capabilities under the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) security partnership, including hypersonics, electronic warfare and autonomous underwater vehicles, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said this week. ASPI, which released the data as part of an update to its critical technology tracker, which ranks leaders in various advanced technologies, said AUKUS related critical technologies “are a two-horse race between China and the US,” but China holds a "convincing" lead in 19 of the 23 technologies newly evaluated by the think tank and "has built the foundations to position itself as the world’s leading science and technology superpower."

China also holds a narrow lead in advanced cyber technologies, advanced robotics, post-quantum cryptography and quantum communications, ASPI said. The think tank said the U.S. holds a lead in quantum computing, but its lead in artificial intelligence technologies, such as advanced integrated circuit design and natural language processing, “is almost too close to call.”

ASPI called the results “striking,” adding that the “current concentration of expertise is likely to result in breakout capability and technology monopoly risk, underscoring the need for AUKUS countries to rapidly deepen their collaboration to ensure future freedom of action, including through access to trusted, secure critical technology supply chains.” The think tanks and others have urged the U.S. to slash technology sharing restrictions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to allow the AUKUS countries to more easily export defense items and technology (see 2303130035, 2302170022, 2303170045 and 2303140018). The State Department is working on a new trade authorization that would expedite certain ITAR-controlled technology transfers (see 2305240061).