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中國高科技篇：人造太陽與融合式核能 -- Caroline Delbert
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瀏覽2,104 ｜回應11｜推薦1 |
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請參見《中美競爭打造”人造太陽”爭奪世界霸權》。
China's Artificial Sun Generated a Magnetic Field, Clearing a Real Path for Fusion
It’s a crucial step forward in the quest for clean energy.
Caroline Delbert, 07/09/24
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
* China’s large Huanliu-3 nuclear fusion reactor (「環流三號」核融合反應爐) follows decades of research in Chengdu.
* The world’s dozens of active tokamak experiments share ideas, scientists, and more.
* This tokamak, like many others, contributes to International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
China joined the quest for an enormous, internationally cooperative nuclear fusion reactor in 2023. Now, they’ve reached a milestone by generating its magnetic field for the first time—a field that is entirely new in tis design. The “artificial sun” reactor, Huanliu-3 (HL-3), is a tokamak run by 17 collaborating labs and facilities around the world. But the much-ballyhooed quest to make energy using these huge reactors still has a decade or more to go, with a lot of misinformation in the mix.
While HL-3 puts China in the group of forerunners in nuclear fusion research, this reactor isn’t the largest (by far), and this milestone is only for its own timeline. This reactor is not close to operating consistently or producing energy that compares to the vast amounts of energy it and other similar reactors—known as tokamaks—require to operate. But HL-3, like many global tokamaks, is considered a proving ground for technologies that nations like China will offer to the truly world-leading ITER project in France. In that sense, each nation’s developments could make a difference going forward.
A tokamak is a donut-shaped (toroidal, in the science parlance) container that holds a stream of superheated magnetic plasma and is reinforced by massive magnets and supercooling encasement. The plasma—a cohesive “cloud” of atoms under star-like conditions—ends up hosting the same reactions that fuel the actual stars. The nuclei of atoms fuse together and release an enormous amount of energy... in theory. We know it happens in the stars, but we’ve never seen it happen inside a thousand-ton piece of machinery on Earth.
So, what does it mean for a world-class “artificial sun” tokamak reactor like HL-3 to establish its own, novel magnetic field design? Well, it’s a huge milestone within the field of tokamak research, as the magnetic field is what actually contains the superheated, fusion-generating plasma. Because plasma reaches a million degrees, it can’t make contact with any other material, or it will both instantly cool down out of the energy range and damage or destroy the part it touches. As such, a successful magnetic field is the only thing that will ever allow a tokamak to contain the plasma and keep it hot enough to make net energy.
There are a number of structural issues with how today’s tokamaks build their magnetic fields. The extremely huge electromagnets used in these machines are key to tokamaks’ designs (ITER received the most powerful magnet ever made in 2021), and they're under development all the time. But they all create hotspots that interrupt the plasma like an island in a stream—either because they are discretely installed at intervals around the shell of the tokamak, or simply because they’re made (by humans) of the naturally occurring materials we have on Earth.
In the cosmos, stars are not contained, so this never comes up. But in a generator, it's yet another hurdle to overcome.
All this means that a new configuration for a magnetic field can be a huge step forward, especially for HL-3, which is considered a feeder technology for ITER. Chinese media reports that China has signed on to build a vacuum chamber module for ITER. The vacuum vessel is essential to ITER’s goals, because it helps make the experiment plausibly safe to do—to contain a starlike reaction along the French waterfront.
it difficult to scrutinize Chinese projects like HL-3, and there aren’t a lot of meaningful comparisons between the world’s dozens of active projects in existence. China has another active nuclear fusion reactor in the international eye (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, or EAST), which has been iterated upon China’s Hefei Institutes of Physical Science since the 2000s.
HL-3, however, comes from a lineage at Southwestern Institute of Physics in Chengdu, 900 miles west on the cusp of vast Western China. That program dates back decades as well, and both have steadily grown more and more powerful over decades of huge upgrades and rebuilds. HL-3 improves on previous designs, and is likely to get a larger machine with a larger overall amount of power going.
We still have never reached the threshold where a nuclear fusion reactor makes more energy than it uses, and to be honest, it’s not clear that we definitely will. But each step forward in proven tokamak technology brings the possibility of nuclear fusion energy closer to reality. And when we’re so many steps away, every little bit counts.
CAROLINE DELBERT is a writer, avid reader, and contributing editor at Pop Mech. She's also an enthusiast of just about everything. Her favorite topics include nuclear energy, cosmology, math of everyday things, and the philosophy of it all.
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中國頂極機密一招定乾坤計畫 - Fanny Potkin
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請參考：
中國據指研製出EUV光刻原型機 ASML前工程師打造 冀2028前生產晶片
索引：
ASML：艾司摩爾公司
EUV：極紫外光微影製程
Exclusive: How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in AI chips
Fanny Potkin, 12/18/25
Summary
* Companies
* Shenzhen team completed a working prototype of a EUV machine in early 2025, sources say
* The lithography machine, built by former ASML engineers, fills a factory floor, sources say
* China's EUV machine is undergoing testing, and has not produced working chips, sources say
* Government is targeting 2028 for working chips, but sources say 2030 is more likely
SINGAPORE, Dec 17 (Reuters) - In a high-security Shenzhen laboratory, Chinese scientists have built what Washington has spent years trying to prevent: a prototype of a machine capable of producing the cutting-edge semiconductor chips that power artificial intelligence, smartphones and weapons central to Western military dominance, Reuters has learned.
Completed in early 2025 and now undergoing testing, the prototype fills nearly an entire factory floor. It was built by a team of former engineers from Dutch semiconductor giant ASML (ASML.AS), opens new tab who reverse-engineered the company's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines or EUVs, according to two people with knowledge of the project.
EUV machines sit at the heart of a technological Cold War. They use beams of extreme ultraviolet light to etch circuits thousands of times thinner than a human hair onto silicon wafers, currently a capability monopolized by the West. The smaller the circuits, the more powerful the chips.
China's machine is operational and successfully generating extreme ultraviolet light, but has not yet produced working chips, the people said.
In April, ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet said that China would need "many, many years" to develop such technology. But the existence of this prototype, reported by Reuters for the first time, suggests China may be years closer to achieving semiconductor independence than analysts anticipated.
Nevertheless, China still faces major technical challenges, particularly in replicating the precision optical systems that Western suppliers produce.
The availability of parts from older ASML machines on secondary markets has allowed China to build a domestic prototype, with the government setting a goal of producing working chips on the prototype by 2028, according to the two people.
But those close to the project say a more realistic target is 2030, which is still years earlier than the decade that analysts believed it would take China to match the West on chips.
Chinese authorities did not respond to requests for comment.
The breakthrough marks the culmination of a six-year government initiative to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency, one of President Xi Jinping's highest priorities. While China's semiconductor goals have been public, the Shenzhen EUV project has been conducted in secret, according to the people.
The project falls under the country's semiconductor strategy, which state media has identified as being run by Xi Jinping confidant Ding Xuexiang, who heads the Communist Party's Central Science and Technology Commission.
Chinese electronics giant Huawei plays a key role coordinating a web of companies and state research institutes across the country involving thousands of engineers, according to the two people and a third source.
The people described it as China's version of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. wartime effort to develop the atomic bomb.
“The aim is for China to eventually be able to make advanced chips on machines that are entirely China-made,” one of the people said. "China wants the United States 100% kicked out of its supply chains."
Huawei, the State Council of China, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, and China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to requests for comment.
Until now, only one company has mastered EUV technology: ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands. Its machines, which cost around $250 million, are indispensable for manufacturing the most advanced chips designed by companies like Nvidia and AMD—and produced by chipmakers such as TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
ASML built its first working prototype of EUV technology in 2001, and told Reuters it took nearly two decades and billions of euros in R&D spending before it produced its first commercially-available chips in 2019.
“It makes sense that companies would want to replicate our technology, but doing so is no small feat,” ASML told Reuters in a statement.
ASML's EUV systems are currently available to U.S. allies including Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
Starting in 2018, the United States began pressuring the Netherlands to block ASML from selling EUV systems to China. The restrictions expanded in 2022, when the Biden administration imposed sweeping export controls designed to cut off China's access to advanced semiconductor technology. No EUV system has ever been sold to a customer in China, ASML told Reuters.
The controls targeted not just EUV systems but also older deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines that produce less-advanced chips like Huawei’s, aiming to keep China at least a generation behind in chipmaking capabilities.
The U.S. State Department said the Trump Administration has strengthened enforcement of export controls on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and is working with partners "to close loopholes as technology advances.”
The Dutch Ministry of Defence said the Netherlands is developing policies requiring “knowledge institutions” to perform personnel screenings to prevent access to sensitive technology “by individuals that have ill intentions or who are at risk of being pressured.”
Export restrictions have slowed China's progress toward semiconductor self-sufficiency for years, and constrained advanced chip production at Huawei, the two people and a third person said.
The sources spoke on condition they not be identified due to the confidentiality of the project.
CHINA'S MANHATTAN PROJECT
One veteran Chinese engineer from ASML recruited to the project was surprised to find that his generous signing bonus came with an identification card issued under a false name, according to one of the people, who was familiar with his recruitment.
Once inside, he recognized other former ASML colleagues who were also working under aliases and was instructed to use their fake names at work to maintain secrecy, the person said. Another person independently confirmed that recruits were given fake IDs to conceal their identities from other workers inside the secure facility.
The guidance was clear, the two people said: Classified under national security, no one outside the compound could know what they were building—or that they were there at all.
The team includes recently retired, Chinese-born former ASML engineers and scientists—prime recruitment targets because they possess sensitive technical knowledge but face fewer professional constraints after leaving the company, the people said.
Two current ASML employees of Chinese nationality in the Netherlands told Reuters they have been approached by recruiters from Huawei since at least 2020.
Huawei did not respond to requests for comment.
European privacy laws limit ASML's ability to track former employees. Though employees sign non-disclosure agreements, enforcing them across borders has proven difficult.
ASML won an $845 million judgment in 2019 against a former Chinese engineer accused of stealing trade secrets, but the defendant filed for bankruptcy and continues to operate in Beijing with Chinese government support, according to court documents.
ASML told Reuters that it “vigilantly guards” trade secrets and confidential information.
"While ASML cannot control or restrict where former employees work, all employees are bound by the confidentiality clauses in their contracts," the company said, and it has "successfully pursued legal action in response to the theft of trade secrets.”
Reuters was unable to determine if any legal actions have been taken against former ASML employees involved in China’s lithography program.
The company said it safeguards EUV knowledge by ensuring only select employees can access the information even inside the company.
Dutch intelligence warned in an April report that China "used extensive espionage programmes in its attempts to obtain advanced technology and knowledge from Western countries," including recruiting "Western scientists and employees of high-tech companies.”
The ASML veterans made the breakthrough in Shenzhen possible, the people said. Without their intimate knowledge of the technology, reverse-engineering the machines would have been nearly impossible.
Their recruitment was part of an aggressive drive China launched in 2019 for semiconductor experts working abroad, offering signing bonuses that started at 3 million to 5 million yuan ($420,000 to $700,000) and home-purchase subsidies, according to a Reuters review of government policy documents.
Recruits included Lin Nan, ASML's former head of light source technology, whose team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shanghai Institute of Optics has filed eight patents on EUV light sources in 18 months, according to patent filings.
The Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics did not respond to requests for comment. Lin could not be reached for comment.
Two additional people familiar with China’s recruitment efforts said some naturalized citizens of other countries were given Chinese passports and allowed to maintain dual citizenship.
China officially prohibits dual citizenship and did not answer questions on issuing passports.
Chinese authorities did not respond to requests for comment.
INSIDE CHINA'S EUV FAB
ASML's most advanced EUV systems are roughly the size of a school bus, and weigh 180 tons. After failed attempts to replicate its size, the prototype inside the Shenzhen lab became many times larger to improve its power, according to the two people.
The Chinese prototype is crude compared to ASML's machines but operational enough for testing, the people said.
China's prototype lags behind ASML's machines largely because researchers have struggled to obtain optical systems like those from Germany's Carl Zeiss AG, one of ASML's key suppliers, the two people said.
Zeiss declined to comment.
The machines fire lasers at molten tin 50,000 times per second, generating plasma at 200,000 degrees Celsius. The light is focused using mirrors that take months to produce, according to Zeiss' website.
China's top research institutes have played key roles in developing homegrown alternatives, according to the two people.
The Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIOMP) achieved a breakthrough in integrating extreme-ultraviolet light into the prototype's optical system, enabling it to become operational in early 2025, one of the people said, though the optics still require significant refinement.
CIOMP did not respond to requests for comment.
In a March online recruitment call on its website, the institute said it was offering "uncapped" salaries to PhD lithography researchers and research grants worth up to 4 million yuan ($560,000) plus 1 million yuan ($140,000) in personal subsidies.
Jeff Koch, an analyst at research firm SemiAnalysis and a former ASML engineer, said China will have achieved "meaningful progress” if the “light source has enough power, is reliable, and doesn’t generate too much contamination.”
"No doubt this is technically feasible, it's just a question of timeline," he said. "China has the advantage that commercial EUV now exists, so they aren't starting from zero."
To get the required parts, China is salvaging components from older ASML machines and sourcing parts from ASML suppliers through secondhand markets, the two people said.
Networks of intermediary companies are sometimes used to mask the ultimate buyer, the people said.
Export-restricted components from Japan’s Nikon and Canon are being used for the prototype, one of the people and an additional source said.
Nikon declined to comment. Canon said it was not aware of such reports. The Japanese Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
International banks regularly auction older semiconductor fabrication equipment, the sources said. Auctions in China sold older ASML lithography equipment as recently as October 2025, according to a review of listings on Alibaba Auction, an Alibaba-owned platform.
A team of around 100 recent university graduates is focused on reverse-engineering components from both EUV and DUV lithography machines, according to the people.
Each worker's desk is filmed by an individual camera to document their efforts to disassemble and reassemble parts—work the people described as key to China's lithography efforts.
Staffers who successfully reassemble a component receive bonuses, the people said.
HUAWEI SCIENTISTS SLEEP ON-SITE
While the EUV project is run by the Chinese government, Huawei is involved in every step of the supply chain from chip design and fabrication equipment to manufacturing and final integration into products like smartphones, according to four people familiar with Huawei’s operations.
CEO Ren Zhengfei briefs senior Chinese leaders on progress, according to one of the people.
The U.S. placed Huawei on an entity list in 2019, banning American companies from doing business with them without a license.
Huawei has deployed employees to offices, fabrication plants, and research centers across the country for the effort. Employees assigned to semiconductor teams often sleep on-site and are barred from returning home during the work week, with phone access restricted for teams handling more sensitive tasks, according to the people.
Inside Huawei, few employees know the scope of this work. "The teams are kept isolated from each other to protect the confidentiality of the project," one of the people said. “They don't know what the other teams work on.”
(This story has been refiled to add Reuters in the dateline)
Reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore, additional reporting by Alexandra Alper in Washington, editing by Ken Li and Michael Learmonth
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
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中國高科技的四項重大突破 -- Sahil Nair
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從下文可見：我對此文的批評(該欄2025/11/20和同一超連接2025/11/22)，並非基於偏見或本位主義所導致的認知失調。關於能源部份的報導，請參考此文(該欄2025/08/16)。
China’s Tech Earthquake: Four Breakthroughs That Could Change Everything
Sahil Nair, 11/25/25
From AI to quantum leaps, the innovations you haven’t heard about may redefine global power.
Image used from mdpi.com 中國四大高科技版塊
I have to be honest I’ve been keeping an eye on tech trends for years, but what I’ve seen coming out of China lately has completely shifted my perspective on innovation. We’re not just talking about small tweaks here; these are the kinds of breakthroughs that make you pause and realize the future is arriving faster than anyone could have imagined.
Let me share four incredible developments from 2025 that truly blew my mind.
The Battery That Could End Range Anxiety Forever
Remember that last time you were gearing up for a road trip in an electric vehicle, meticulously plotting out charging stations like you were preparing for an epic adventure? Well, that might soon be a thing of the past.
Chinese scientists have come up with something that sounds almost too incredible to believe: a self-healing battery that can power an electric car for over 1,000 kilometers on just one charge. To give you an idea, that means you could drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back without needing to stop for a recharge even once.
What really caught my attention about this technology is how it tackles a common issue with regular batteries. You know how they tend to lose their efficiency over time? That’s because tiny cracks form inside them similar to how roads develop potholes after years of wear and tear. These cracks force the battery to work harder, leading to a quicker demise.
The Chinese team tackled this challenge with what I can only call battery Band-Aids. They came up with a unique compound made from iodine that works like glue. When cracks appear, this “glue” automatically shifts to the damaged areas while the battery is in use. It fills in the gaps and re-bonds everything kind of like how your skin heals when you get a cut on your finger.
So, what are the results? A whopping 86% boost in energy storage capacity compared to earlier batteries. This isn’t just impressive; it’s groundbreaking. And what really blows my mind is that no other research team around the globe has even tried this method. China isn’t just catching up; they’re making giant strides with completely innovative solutions.
A Bridge That Defies Belief
Let me share something that recently took social media by storm for all the right reasons: the world’s tallest bridge, which has just been completed in China’s Guizhou province.
The figures are truly mind-blowing. This incredible structure towers 2,500 feet above a river that’s higher than stacking two Empire State Buildings on top of each other! It slashes travel time across the canyon from a lengthy 2 hours down to a mere 2 minutes. And here’s the kicker: it was built in just 3 years and 8 months, with a price tag of $300 million.
Image used from people.com 橋的照片
The bridge isn’t just a means to get from point A to point B it’s an experience in itself. Picture this: a sleek glass elevator zooming visitors up to a coffee shop that’s perched a staggering 2,600 feet above the ground. You can take a thrilling bungee jump off the edge, stroll along a glass walkway that’s 1,900 feet high, or simply soak in the breathtaking views of a nearby waterfall. It’s a brilliant blend of infrastructure and tourism that I’ve never encountered before.
What really caught my attention, though, was the reaction from Americans on social media. They weren’t just impressed; they were genuinely astonished that something like this could be built so quickly and at such a low cost. Many started drawing comparisons to the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which tragically collapsed last year. The repairs for that bridge already partially built are projected to take four years and cost a whopping $2 billion.
Just take a moment to think about that. China managed to construct the tallest bridge in the world from the ground up in less time and for one-seventh the price of fixing an existing bridge in the U.S. It’s been decades since the United States has tackled challenges like this, and I think a lot of us have lost sight of what’s truly achievable when a government is dedicated to infrastructure.
The AI Race Nobody Expected
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the AI scene, you might think that American companies like OpenAI are way ahead of the game. I used to believe that too. But then something unexpected happened that made me rethink everything.
Last month, Brian Chesky, the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, shared that his company is actually using Alibaba’s Qwen model as its main AI tool. Not ChatGPT. Not Google’s Gemini. A Chinese AI model.
This wasn’t just a small tidbit it was a clear indication that the AI landscape is changing right before our eyes. Chesky pointed out that ChatGPT’s integration features weren’t quite up to par for Airbnb’s requirements, while Alibaba’s Qwen model was “very good and also fast and cheap.”
What really fascinates me is the philosophical divide between how China and the US approach AI. In the US, we’ve seen an enormous investment hundreds of billions poured into closed-source, profit-driven models. Some experts are now warning that this could lead to a speculative bubble that’s 17 times bigger than the notorious dot-com crash. Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has pointed out the signs of this growing AI bubble.
On the flip side, China has taken a completely different route. Their AI models focus on practical applications and are mostly open-source. For instance, Alibaba has rolled out over 300 open-source AI models, which have given rise to more than 170,000 derivative models making it the largest open-source AI ecosystem in the world.
A quote from Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai really resonated with me: “The true winner in AI will be determined by who can adopt it faster rather than who builds the strongest AI model.” It seems that China’s strategy of prioritizing cost-effective, open-source AI is more conducive to quick adoption, especially when compared to the US’s approach of investing billions into massive trillion-parameter models.
Let’s talk about the “doing more with less” mindset. You might have heard of DeepSeek, which made waves by using only about 2,000 specialized chips, while Western models often needed 16,000 or more. And get this it pulled it off with just $6 million in computing power, which is a mere fraction of what Meta spends on its AI tech.
But Huawei is taking things to the next level. They’ve developed AI clusters where less powerful chips work together to match the performance of Western systems. This innovative strategy has even led Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, to make a surprising admission.
He said, “China has some of the best entrepreneurs in the world… They’re nanoseconds behind us. Nanoseconds.”
Not years. Not months. Just nanoseconds.
The Energy Infrastructure Nobody’s Talking About
Here’s something that really keeps me awake at night: the huge disconnect between America’s energy infrastructure and what we actually need for the AI-driven future we’re creating.
Just think about the projected power demand for AI data centers it’s expected to skyrocket in the next decade. The current demand is already causing serious strain on the US electrical grid. In fact, power output in the United States has barely budged in over 20 years.
In recent years, China has experienced a remarkable and steady growth in energy production. To put it into perspective, in 2024, China produced more electricity than the combined output of the US, EU, and India. Just take a moment to let that sink in.
A key factor behind this achievement is China’s commitment to nuclear energy a reliable technology that has been largely overlooked by Western countries for many years. Not only is China rapidly constructing new reactors, but they’re also doing so at significantly lower costs compared to others. Many reactors in the US are aging, with their operating expenses often twice as high as those of China’s modern facilities.
But China’s ambitions don’t stop at traditional reactors. Earlier this year, they made headlines by successfully launching the world’s first thorium reactor. Additionally, they’re setting new benchmarks in nuclear fusion research, with scientists reaching plasma temperatures that are six times hotter than the sun.
The difference is striking. Major tech companies in the US have been setting up huge data centers in small towns, completely taking over local power grids and shifting the rising energy costs onto the residents. In some areas, electricity bills have skyrocketed by 267% in just five years.
This situation really underscores the contrasting approaches to governance. The Chinese government has been gearing up for this moment for decades, consistently pushing forward with energy development. On the flip side, the US government has been relatively stagnant, prioritizing short-term objectives and overseas conflicts instead of investing in its own infrastructure.
What This All Means
I’ve been keeping an eye on China’s tech scene for quite a few years now, and people often ask me, “So, what’s China really like?” I usually throw back a half-joking reply: “I could tell you, but you probably wouldn’t believe it.”
The truth is, many folks in the West just can’t wrap their heads around how far China has come. The old story we’ve been told for years that China merely copies and churns out cheap imitations is seriously outdated.
The four innovations I’ve mentioned the self-healing battery, the record-breaking bridge, the thriving AI ecosystem, and the vast energy infrastructure are just the tip of the iceberg. I could easily point out dozens more impressive examples from just this year alone.
What really stands out to me isn’t just the individual successes. It’s the methodical way they tackle challenges: pinpointing obstacles, pouring resources into solutions, and moving at a pace that seems almost unbelievable to those in the West.
Take the self-healing battery, for instance it didn’t just enhance what was already out there; it tackled the issue from a fresh perspective. And that bridge? It wasn’t just tall; it was constructed quicker and at a lower cost than anything similar in the West. When it comes to AI, they didn’t merely replicate American models; they discovered ways to achieve comparable outcomes while using far fewer resources. The energy infrastructure wasn’t just built to react to needs it was developed well in advance of what was expected.
I’m not claiming that everything China does is flawless or that we should just mimic their methods. But it would be shortsighted to overlook these advancements. The 21st century is unfolding right now, and China isn’t waiting for anyone’s approval to take the lead.
These aren’t just achievements for China they’re milestones for humanity that can make a difference for everyone. That self-healing battery tech has the potential to tackle climate change. That bridge-building expertise could link up isolated communities around the globe. That smart AI strategy could make artificial intelligence accessible to all. That energy infrastructure could pave the way for a cleaner future.
The real question isn’t if China is making strides, it clearly is. The real question is whether the rest of the world will take notice, learn from these breakthroughs, and step up to the plate.
Because from my perspective, the future is coming in hot, faster than most people think. And it’s being shaped right now.
Reference
China's Latest Battery Breakthrough Could Mark the End of the Gasoline Era
China's battery breakthrough sends EV range soaring past 1,000 km.
Written by Sahil Nair
Student of Psychology and Philosophy. Opinionated writer practicing in a wandering mind...
Published in Geopolitics & Beyond
Geopolitics & Beyond explores the forces shaping our world global power shifts, economic trends, AI, and science. We connect politics, innovation, and strategy to reveal insights that guide understanding of today’s complexities and tomorrow’s possibilities.
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中國核能工業產能 -- Joseph Clark
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請參見此欄2025/11/20、11/22關於中、美兩國「生產力」的討論。
China makes crucial breakthroughs in pursuit of limitless energy source: 'Moving very, very fast'
"China is practiced at building really big things."
Joseph Clark, 11/21/25
China is rapidly cornering the market on nuclear power, building reactors at a pace that is stunning Western nations while leaving the U.S. looking befuddled.
According to The New York Times, China has nearly as many reactors under construction as the rest of the world combined. It's on track to surpass U.S. nuclear capacity by 2030. The contrast is stark. While the first new U.S. reactors in a generation became a $17 billion punchline after being seven years late, China built 13 similar reactors in that same time frame.
How? A report from The Breakthrough Institute notes that nearly every Chinese project since 2010 has been built in seven years or less. This shatters the myth that reactors must take a decade. As consultant David Fishman told the Times, "China is practiced at building really big things... and those project management skills are transferable."
This matters because nuclear fission, the current standard, is a complicated tool. Think of it like a controlled demolition: It splits heavy atoms to release massive amounts of energy. This can produce huge amounts of low-carbon electricity 24/7, but it also creates long-lasting radioactive waste and carries safety risks.
The real prize is fusion, the "holy grail" of energy. This is the Iron Man arc reactor of energy. It smashes two tiny nuclei together to make one, releasing nearly unlimited power, just like the sun. This could one day slash utility bills. A fusion plant, for example, would need only 250 kilograms of fuel a year, while a coal plant needs nearly 3 million tons.
China is already moving on this. One Chinese fusion facility just installed a massive 400-ton component, speeding toward its 2027 goal.
The U.S. is innovating, too. One firm, Oklo, formerly chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is building America's first privately funded nuclear fuel recycling center to turn old waste into new fuel for advanced microreactors.
Other researchers are developing more efficient fuel rods that last longer and create less waste. These clean energy advances are key to curbing air pollution, which research shows could prevent millions of premature deaths by improving human health
"The Chinese are moving very, very fast," said Mark Hibbs, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
On a personal level, you can take advantage of nuclear fusion through solar panels, which capture energy from the fusion reaction in the sun. Check out TCD's Solar Explorer for connections with trusted companies that can help you save around $10,000 on an installation over less established competition.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
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中國研發量子雷達--Jonathan H. Kantor
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China Is Attempting To Mass Produce 'World-First' Quantum Radars For This One Purpose
Jonathan H. Kantor, 10/26/25
An artist's rendering of quantum entanglement - Jian Fan/Getty Images 請至原網頁觀看「量子糾纏」的示意畫面
Radar has been around since 1904, though it took time to achieve practical usage. World War II was significantly altered with the introduction of usable radar, and it has evolved considerably ever since. The next innovation in radar technology could use a unique quantum property of photons to identify objects, forming a far more detailed picture compared to traditional methods. China is working hard to produce the world's first quantum radar system, which could be capable of tracking aircraft like the stealthiest fighter jet, the American-made F-22 Raptor.
Quantum radar systems aren't available yet, but China is moving closer to the goal. Traditional radar bounces radio waves off objects to determine their speed, size, and trajectory. Quantum radar is a different animal, using the quantum properties of light to locate distant objects in what is called quantum sensing. This radar employs the strange properties of quantum entanglement to unlock unprecedented radar sensitivity. There are many challenges in developing quantum radar, including overcoming its limited range, as current tests work only across distances of dozens of feet.
Quantum Information Engineering Technology Research Center in Anhui province, China, developed a new technology which is concerning to the West. China's new tech has been called a "photon catcher" due to its ability to detect a single photon. China revealed that it began mass producing photon catchers in October 2025, and the highly sensitive components could be the key to unlock usable quantum radar systems.
How might a quantum radar work?
An artist's rendering of quantum data represented on a computer screen - Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock 請至原網頁觀看「量子數據」的示意畫面
Quantum radar offers a means of identifying objects that traditional radar simply can't come close to achieving. Stealth works by reducing the amount of radio waves an object reflects back to the radar receiver. If not enough radio waves are sent back, it's impossible for the receiver to separate the returned signal from ambient radio noise.
In a quantum radar system, a pair of photons is entangled (essentially, embedded with information that marks them as a pair). One photon, the "signal," is emitted, while another, the "idler," is stored in quantum memory. Quantum radar looks at incoming photons and compares them to its stored photons. If an incoming photon matches one of the stored photons, then you can definitely say it has reflected off of something. This is where China's new photon detector comes into play; because it can detect a single photon in a sea of noise, it can essentially cut out all of the interference.
Currently, this only works over short distances because it's relatively easy to make entangled pairs of microwave or infrared photons, which have a limited range, but it's much harder to make pairs of radio photons, which can travel much farther. Storing photons to retain their quantum coherence is another challenge yet to be overcome. Quantum computers need to be kept at temperatures near absolute zero to preserve their quantum coherence, something that is not easy to achieve in field-ready equipment. It should be noted that China doesn't have a working quantum radar. Instead, it's developed technology that could eventually be a step in the right direction.
What quantum radar systems mean for the future of warfare
A man typing on a laptop with a red UI in the background - Yuri Ustinov/ Shutterstock 請至原網頁觀看照片
Needless to say, defense planners in the West are concerned about the potential of China's nascent quantum radar technology. Photon detectors could overcome some of the current challenges in developing a working quantum radar, pushing the technology closer to reality. If everything China has revealed (and the stuff it hasn't) proves true, quantum radar systems could one day effectively dismantle the era of Western stealth dominance. That's a decades-long advantage, brought with the introduction of the The F-117 Nighthawk in 1981.
The United States and many of its allies have built their air combat power around stealth technology, so removing the advantage could be disastrous in future operations. Add to that the lack of a similar system in use by the West, and China has the potential to take full advantage of what would undoubtedly be a shift in stealth superiority. The West would still have stealth aircraft in operation, but without their ability to fly undetected by Chinese quantum radar systems, they would become vulnerable.
In the ongoing evolution of technological warfare, the West would have to come up with a countermeasure or an entirely new stealth system to compensate and overcome China's growing advantage. Fortunately, a workable system is still a long way off, and China is hardly the only nation working on quantum radars. Add to that the nature of Chinese propaganda, and it's anyone's guess how far along the nation truly is in developing the technology.
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中國從太空主宰世界--Claude Lafleur
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下文全長約4,700字，我只讀了第1節(「前言」或「全文簡介」)。為節省篇幅，我略去原文所附的「參考資料」目錄。
作者引用了77項資料，從規劃與執行等7個面向報導中國太空技術發展的現況(不包括「前言」和「結論」兩節)；內容應有可觀之處。請參見這一篇相關評論。
How China Is preparing to dominate the world
Claude Lafleur, 10/06/25
Are we already at war with China? Some say yes. That’s why US Space Force officials talk about preparing for battles in orbit. But perhaps China is playing a subtler game. Not dogfights among satellites, but something more insidious: a trade war fought with irresistible technology. Services so abundant and sophisticated they could make resistance futile.
Today, China sits firmly in second place in space activity: behind the United States, but leagues ahead of everyone else. And Beijing has no intention of staying second for long.
The Chinese are also preparing to compete with the US by deploying two megaconstallations of communications satellites that offer services similar to Starlink. Half a dozen companies are racing to build rockets to challenge the Falcon 9. New offerings from satellite-guided self-driving cars to internet speeds almost beyond belief, hint at a future that feels lifted from science fiction.
This isn’t just growth. It’s the construction of commercial firepower—capacity on a planetary scale—that could tilt the balance of global power.
Furthermore, China deploys a range of military satellites and conducts orbital operations that greatly concern the US military. The latter fears that the Chinese will supplant them in what they consider to be the “next theater of war.”[1]
China also reports steady progress in its preparations to send astronauts to the Moon around 2030, in addition to preparing to collect Martian soil samples that, if all goes well, will be returned to Earth in 2031.
China uses these lunar and solar system exploration projects to promote its policies of international cooperation. It is offering anyone interested the opportunity to contribute to its lunar and planetary probes, in addition to participating in the analysis of the results and samples they bring back. It is thus offering us the chance to take part in some tantalizing adventures.
For instance, China is making unparalleled efforts elsewhere in the world to develop a host of innovative technologies and services. It will therefore be no coincidence if one day China achieves world domination.
Made in China: surprising technological advances
In January, the Chinese firm DeepSeek surprised the world by unveiling a super-efficient artificial intelligence service that could potentially supplant American giants.[2] According to some analysts, DeepSeek’s emergence is revolutionizing the field of AI. It’s worth noting that AI is playing an increasingly important role in space applications.[3]
The impact DeepSeek’s arrival had on the international scene has delighted the Chinese press. China Daily, for instance, took pride in reporting that, “After DeepSeek’s groundbreaking debut, some commentators likened its significance to a ‘Sputnik Moment’, highlighting its epochal impact.”[4]
The newspaper points out that the launch of the first artificial satellite in 1957 marked a turning point in the arms and space race between USSR and US—what historians call the Sputnik moment. “The 83.6-kilogram satellite orbiting Earth delivered a psychological blow to and put strategic pressure on the US, because it meant the US lagged behind the Soviet Union in critical space technology,” notes the newspaper. It concluded, “China has risen from being a ‘follower’ to a ‘parallel runner’ or even a leader in certain AI domains,” adding that “DeepSeek’s rise “collapsed the US narrative of computational supremacy” and “shattered Western illusions of containing China.”
This is one of the recent examples of technologies being developed in China. We could also mention high-quality electric cars that are cheaper than their Western counterparts. Another Chinese company, Blue Sky, is developing a flying taxi, the EH216-S, a small unmanned helicopter designed to transport passengers over short distances.
“On a hot summer morning in Hefei, a futuristic flying taxi hums to life inside Luogang Park, a green space resurrected from an old airport in the city,” China Daily reports.[5] The EH216-S is a two-seater electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that travels at an altitude of 50 meters. “This aircraft is fully autonomous,” said Zhang Yuhui, operations director at Hefei Heyi Aviation Co, which has developed the EH216-S. “It is designed for short-haul city transport, sightseeing, logistics even emergency response. Soon, passengers will be able to book rides above the city’s skyline,” he added.
China is also using small weather stations installed by drone in hard-to-reach areas. “Many geological disasters occur in areas with poor transport and communication, making it hard to monitor rainfall in real time,” said Wang Tun, head of the Institute of Care-Life. These mini weather stations transmit their monitoring data via satellite to the warning center from the most remote regions.[6]
For its part, the Geely Holding Group has just added 22 new satellites to its GeelySat fleet, which are used to relay information between devices of all kinds—the so-called Internet of Things (IoT).[7] This a new application where a variety of devices are networked together. These can be data collection stations or our cars, whose condition and driving behavior are monitored by the manufacturer or our insurer. Increasingly, even our household appliances are connected by IoT.
Geely already operates a network that enables direct satellite connectivity for autonomous driving, smart internet, cellular telephony, and other consumer electronics applications. The market for direct satellite-based cellular connectivity is increasingly promising, we are told.[8] With the exception of the poles, almost every location on Earth, including oceans, deserts, and remote mountainous regions where traditional communications are difficult to establish, will benefit from a stable network connection thanks to cellular networks directly linked by satellites.
Moreover, China has just issued a policy to speed up the development of its satellite communication industry. This policy will support the construction and commercial trials of low Earth orbit satellite internet systems, promote satellite direct-to-device services (D2D), and encourage satellite IoT applications to serve remote areas such as at sea and in mountainous areas. It will also step up efforts in core technologies, such as integrating satellite communication with 5G, 6G and artificial intelligence.[9]
These are just a few recent examples of technologies currently being deployed in China. In addition, there is a wide range of space-based services, such as powerful communications, remote sensing, and satellite navigation.
Satellites in service of crisis
When disaster strikes, satellites are often the first responders. On January 7, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Tibet. Up to 400 people are believed to have died and 338 others were injured. This earthquake was the largest to hit China since the one in May 2021 and the deadliest since the one in December 2023.[10]
In the first hours following the earthquake, the Chinese government deployed a series of measures to assist the victims. Eight satellites, including Gaofen satellites and a terrestrial ecosystem monitoring satellite, were deployed to observe the disaster areas. Other higher-resolution satellites were later used to quickly identify devastated areas and damaged infrastructure.[11]
Most recently, the government deployed satellite telephone services in Hebei Province, which was severely hit by floods. Villages previously cut off from the rest of the world have been restored after emergency repairs and the establishment of satellite links.[12]
It should be noted that China is one of the countries most affected by earthquakes and floods, given its extremely rugged terrain. It therefore deploys a host of satellites for Earth observation, natural disaster monitoring, communications, and other purposes.
China is a land of extremes—mountains, rivers, earthquakes, floods—and so it is also a laboratory for satellite-based disaster relief. China just launched a satellite that it hopes will be able to predict earthquakes. This Zhangheng 1B spacecraft will attempt to monitor electromagnetic anomalies caused by certain geological activities, as well as storms and lightning in the atmosphere. China hopes to prevent large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, and devastating storms.[13]
Furthermore, China has orbited two other specialized Siwei Gaojing satellites, which are used to monitor maritime traffic and enforce international rules governing the seas, as well as to quickly obtain high-resolution images of areas affected by floods, fires, or earthquakes. This network will eventually include 28 satellites, and which could even grow to 56 if international demand is there, it was announced. The satellites will be targeted at the global market and compete with international leading commercial remote sensing satellites operated by providers such as Maxar (now Vantor) and Europe’s Airbus, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the constellation’s developer.[14]
The explosion of the “private” sector
On November 30, 2024, China inaugurated a new spaceport, located on the Pacific coast, in Hainan, in southeast China.[15] Beijing claimed that this is the first commercial spaceport, unlike the launch bases of other countries, whose primary function is to handle government launches and, secondarily, commercial ones. By virtue of its geographical location, this spaceport is comparable to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
China refers to this spaceport as the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center, “the first spaceport dedicated to commercial operations.” It is also specified that it is a joint venture between the local government of Hainan and three state-owned conglomerates. Launches from this port will generally be paid for by companies rather than the government, it is stated.[16]
This culminates ten years of a space commercialization policy introduced by the Chinese government in 2014. The State Council thus encourages private capital to participate in the construction of space infrastructure. Ten years later, the government announced that 546 space companies were operating in China.[17]
But it is not easy to distinguish state-owned enterprises from those deemed private or commercial. The government, for its part, defines commercial space companies as those not funded by the central government and not part of national or military research and development plans.[18]
Initially, Beijing only authorized private companies to design small rockets and launch small satellites. But since 2020, it has authorized large-scale projects, including the design of powerful reusable rockets and the creation of satellite constellations, particularly for Earth observation, and including a megaconstellation of 13,000 Guowang satellites designed specifically to compete with Starlink network. Similarly, a second company, Spacesail, is building a network of 14,000 satellites called Qianfan (Thousand Sails) to provide secure and reliable internet services to users around the world.[19]
The Chinese government has thus implemented a series of measures aimed at encouraging the emergence and growth of a vast commercial space industry in order to stimulate innovation and close the gap with the United States. It even emphasizes the commercial space sector as a key driver of high-tech development.[20] In the eyes of the authorities, space is one of the country’s economic pillars, alongside electronics, IT, transportation, and communications—these sectors perfectly stimulating and complementing each other.[21]
Various Chinese companies are developing satellite services, particularly in the areas of communications, navigation, and remote sensing.[22] For example, users from around the world who connect to the Chang Guang firm’s website can view satellite images captured by the company’s fleet of 117 Jilin satellites. These satellites are able to observe any point on the globe around 40 times a day.[23]
This Jilin constellation can cover the entire world six times a year and all of China 24 times a year, providing frequent satellite image updates from any point on the globe, contributing to the company’s overseas business development. It already serves more than 130 international clients, providing services in surveying, urban infrastructure studies, agriculture, forestry, and more. It also monitors forest fires and floods around the world.
This is how the government funds and encourages the creation of a vast network of diverse companies, while several Chinese cities and provinces have established their own space sectors, funding a variety of facilities, research centers, and state-owned and private enterprises. Chinese are talking about “electronic cities”, or E-Towns, which are economic development zones which concentrate on certain technologies.
Thus, the Beijing metropolitan area has created a group of eight research laboratories which focus on areas ranging from the design of reusable space transportation system to satellite internet applications and satellite interconnection and control.[24] These E-Towns serve to “build an integrated industrial chain of high-tech research and manufacturing enterprises.” Beijing’s E-Town already brings together more than 160 aerospace companies that complement each other.[25]
These different space cities and regions compete with each other while cooperating, supporting, and stimulating one another.[26] For its part, Guangdong has unveiled a sweeping plan to position itself as a leading hub for China’s commercial space industry, in seven domains, spanning from satellite constellations and ground station networks to key technologies and ecosystem building.[27] Nowhere else in the world is anything like this found.
Furthermore, the government is seeking to develop a space (and other) industry independent of Western technologies. “Technological self-sufficiency, from semiconductors to artificial intelligence, has taken on greater urgency as Beijing aims to build ‘fortress China’, to steel itself in its growing rivalry with the U.S.,” the The Wall Street Journal reported recently.[28]
An impressive strike force?
In the introduction to a White Paper published in January 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared, “To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream.”[28]
This policy statement also stated that: “The space industry is a critical element of the overall national strategy.” Thus, over the next five years, it stated that China “will start a new journey towards a space power. The space industry will contribute more to China’s growth as a whole.”
Since launching its first satellite in 1970, China launched only 131 spacecraft in 40 years (from 1970 to 2010), an average of only three per year. But since 2021, it has been launching more than a hundred per year. “As a result, China has approximately 1,000 satellites in orbit as of now, marking a dramatic increase from around 40 satellites in 2010,” according to Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, deputy chief of Space Operations for Intelligence with the US Space Force.[30] (See the list of Chinese spacecraft launched so far this year here.)
請至原網頁查看年度衛星發射數據表
These satellites perform various functions, such as communications, earth observation for civilian purposes (remote sensing), meteorology, etc., as well as various military services: reconnaissance, electronic espionage, secure communications, navigation, etc.
Moreover, China has been conducting its own human spaceflight missions since 2003, while Chinese astronauts have been permanently occupying space since June 2021 aboard the Tiangong space station. They are also exploring the Moon using automated Chang’e probes. They are the only country to have brought back samples from the lunar farside. And now, with the Tianwen probes, they are exploring the planet Mars (Tianwen 1), an asteroid and a comet (Tianwen 2), while Tianwen 3 is preparing to bring samples from Mars back to Earth in 2031. In addition, China is preparing to send humans to the Moon in the coming years.
All these missions were carried out using Chang Zheng (Long March) rockets developed by the Chinese Academy of Science. However, since 2019, private companies have been launching their own rockets.[32] Thus, five private launchers are now in service: Hyperbola (a.k.a. SQX), Smart Dragon (Jalong), Ceres (Guhsenxing), Kinetic (Lijian), and Zhuque.
Furthermore, commercial companies such as Landspace, Space Pioneer, Orienspace, and iSpace are busy designing reusable rockets with ambitions to compete with SpaceX.[32] And Galactic Energy is preparing for the first launch of its Pallas-1 launcher and aims to test a much more powerful Pallas-2 as early as 2026.[33] Finally, Deep Blue Aerospace is developing a small suborbital launcher that would be used for short suborbital flights, similar to Blue Origin’s New Shepard.[34]
As Andrew Jones, who has been following the Chinese space program for SpaceNews since 2017, reported: “China’s launch sector is already one of the most competitive in the world… This surge shows strong government support and the looming demand from megaconstellations like Guowang and Qianfan. Whoever achieves reliable reusability first—state-owned or private—will give China a decisive boost in launch cadence, cost and perhaps even global space competitiveness.”[35]
Moreover, several other new Chinese companies have recently entered the commercial launch market, some with projects as ambitious as innovative.[36]
The Mengzhou crew capsule and the Lanyue lunar module. (Credit: China Daily) 請至原網頁觀看照片
First back to the Moon?
In May 2023, China announced that it will send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.[37] Consequently, it is currently designing a new rocket called Chang Zheng 10, as well as the Mengzhou capsule and the Lanyue lunar module. The rocket’s first flight is expected in 2027, according to Rong Yi, a rocket expert with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.[38] It should be noted that this rocket has many of the same characteristics as NASA’s SLS lunar rocket.
Since then, China appears to be moving surprisingly quickly with its lunar program.[39] It has already tested the structure of its lunar rocket and simultaneously ignited the seven first-stage rocket engines twice, while continuing construction of the launch pads at the Wenchang spaceport.[40] It also conducted an emergency escape test of Mengzhou from a launch pad.[41] And now, a complete simulation of the lunar landing and liftoff of Lanyue has just been completed.[42]
These are fundamental advances in the development of lunar spacecraft. And the fact that China regularly reports progress also seems to indicate that this program is progressing well.[43] However, there are still many steps to be taken, including ensuring that both the Chang Zheng 10 rocket and the Mengzhou and Lanyue spacecraft will be able to safely transport crews.
But, according to the China Manned Space Agency, the “key components of the ambitious project, including the Long March 10 heavy-lift carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, the Lanyue lunar lander, the Wangyu lunar suit and the Tansuo crew rover, are currently in the preliminary prototype development phase, and the design work is proceeding on schedule.” CMSA also reports that a fourth group of astronauts has been selected and is already training for lunar landing and exploration operations.[44]
However, several test flights will be required before these new spacecraft can be entrusted with human lives, as NASA had done in the 1960s.
International cooperation
In the early 2000s, China undertook two major programs: human spaceflight and lunar exploration using Chang’e robotic probes. More recently, it has embarked on solar system exploration using Tianwen probes. Not only do these programs enhance national prestige by showcasing Chinese expertise in cutting-edge technologies, but they also serve to forge international ties in science.[45]
According to President Xi, progress in space science and technology will benefit people around the world, and China wants to use space exploration achievements to create a better future for mankind. “Outer space is a domain shared by humanity, and space exploration is humanity’s common cause”, Xi said.[46]
In the early 2000s, China wanted to join the International Space Station program, a request that was rejected by the West: it had nothing to gain from a Chinese contribution, while China had everything to gain. As a result, 25 years later, China has its own orbital station, Tiangong, which it sometimes calls CSS (Chinese Space Station), to mirror ISS.
China is now inviting various countries to participate in this program by providing experiments to be conducted aboard CSS, or even to send astronauts there.[47] In February, Pakistan agreed to send its first astronaut there.[48]
The Chinese are the only ones to bring back lunar soil samples from the lunar farside. The soil analyses conducted by Chinese scientists have already allowed this country to claim some interesting discoveries.[49] And they are now entrusting a few grams of samples to research teams from six countries: France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, the head of the China National Space Administration, Shan Zhongde, said that lunar sample brought back by Chang’e probes “belong not only to China but also to the world, representing a shared treasure for all humanity.”[50]
Building on the successes achieved by its six Chang’e probes, China is actively preparing the next three, whose launches are scheduled by 2030. It should be noted that China has four of the six successful lunar landings, out of the 15 attempts, undertaken since 2013.[51] Thus, it is offering anyone interested the opportunity to participate in future missions; most recently, this country announced the addition of ten international experiments to its Chang’e 8 mission, scheduled to land at the Moon’s South Pole in 2029.[52]
The same is true for the Tianwen interplanetary missions. Building on the success achieved around Mars with Tianwen 1, this country has just launched a second probe which, if all goes well, will bring back samples from a small asteroid in 2027. It is also preparing to recover the first samples from Mars in 2031, using the Tianwen 3 probe. Once again, it is inviting international teams to join this large-scale operation.[53]
Finally, China plans to install a crewed base on the Moon, which it calls the International Lunar Research Station. As part of this project, it reports having signed cooperation agreements with 17 countries and international organizations.[54]
When the Chinese worry the US
Like all major space players, China uses an array of military satellites to monitor what is happening on Earth (photo reconnaissance, electronic eavesdropping, missile launch detection, etc.), as well as to ensure highly secure communications, to remotely control its planes, ships, and missiles with its GPS system called Beidou.
But now China is also conducting covert operations that are increasingly worrying the US military. For example, China is launching satellites that perform intriguing maneuvers in Earth orbit, some of which approach other satellites, particularly US ones, in order to inspect them—something the Americans are doing with their GSSAP surveillance satellites.[55]
The US military is also concerned that the Chinese are developing anti-satellite weapons: missiles fired from the ground to intercept satellites, killer satellites, or equipment capable of jamming satellite communications systems or engaging in electronic hacking.[56]
In recent months, the Chinese have launched five satellites that they say are used to test new technologies. Officially, these TJS (Chinese for “Experimental Technology Satellite”) are used to test equipment for communications, radio, television, and data transmission services, as well as to validate various related technologies.[57]
Table 2: Over the past decade, China has conducted two dozen mysterious operations in geostationary orbit. 請至原網頁查過去10中國在地球赤道同步軌道執行了24項不為外人所知的試驗/任務
However, the fact that 17 TJS have been launched in ten years, including five in recent months, leaves observers perplexed, since typically only one or two satellites are launched occasionally to test new technologies.[58] This is why the US suspects that the TJS are more likely to perform top-secret military functions such as electronic espionage, missile launch detection, or the development of potential inspection systems.[59]
This is why Chief Master Sergeant Lerch said recently: “There are a number of what the Chinese refer to as these experimental communication satellites that are out in GEO, and yet these GEO satellites, they’re sliding, or they’re moving very frequently across the GEO belt, which is a behavior that is very uncharacteristic of a satellite that’s intended to provide satellite communications.”[60]
On January 6, China launched the Shijian 25 satellite, whose primary mission, we are told, “is tasked with verifying orbital refueling and life-extension technologies.”[61]
This satellite joined Shijian 21, launched in October 2021, in geostationary orbit.[62] This satellite had previously carried out an unprecedented operation by docking with an old Beidou navigation satellite and towing it to a graveyard orbit located 300 kilometers beyond geostationary orbit. Such an operation shows that China is concerned about managing its old satellites. However, US military argues that these could just as easily be used to attack other satellites.[63]
In any case, on June 13, the two Shijians docked. Shijian 25 then reportedly refueled Shijian 21, although the Chinese have not confirmed this.[64] If this is the case, it would be a major advancement in refueling technology. But since the Chinese have said nothing about it, US suspect that this test “strengthens the Chinese military’s ability to operate in geostationary orbit.”[65] Curiously, the two Shijian spacecraft met again on June 30, their maneuvers having been closely followed by two American GSSAPs.[66]
Then, in July and August, China launched two more Shiyan satellites, numbers 28B 01 and 28B 02, which were placed in a type of orbit never before used by the Chinese, namely a trajectory inclined at 11 degrees.[67] According to official sources, these satellites are used to “measure and survey space environmental elements and test new technologies,” which means absolutely nothing.[68] So what are these Shijian satellites really used for? Perhaps that will be revealed in the future.
It should be noted that all TJS satellites and half a dozen Shijian satellites operate in geostationary orbit, in which a number of strategic satellites are installed: communication, weather, espionage, missile early warning, and more. There are more than 600 geostationary satellites forming a belt around the Equator.[69] However, the fact that the Chinese are increasingly carrying out operations of an unknown nature there is a cause for concern.[70]
Of particular concern is that they are developing techniques to inspect any satellite and, if necessary, electronically paralyze or even destroy it.[71] In recent years, Chinese satellites have reportedly been conducting maneuvers near foreign satellites, possibly to photograph them or analyze their electronic signals.[72] (Note that the US is doing the same.)[73]
According to Juliana Suess of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, “China, at this point, is able to conduct very targeted proximity maneuvers, potentially even doing physical damage or listening to communications, etc. But they can now also do it, not quite unseen, but they’re very good at hiding what they’re doing until after the fact.”[74]
Last January, Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force under the Biden Administration, stated just before leaving office that the United States risks being overtaken by China in the military space race. According to a report he commissioned, space will be the center of nearly all military operations, while by 2050, US adversaries—primarily China and Russia—will possess numerous weapons capable of attacking American space assets.[75]
Consequently, a report by the Council on Foreign Relations urges the Trump Administration and Congress to adopt a comprehensive strategy to maintain the United States’ lead in space. The report cites increasing threats, particularly those from anti-satellite weapons, as well as growing competition from China, and warns that the United States could face another “Sputnik moment.”[76]
For his part, General Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the US Space Force, believes that Chinese ambitions constitute a “powerful destabilizing force.” He is concerned about the growing number of space weapons developed by China, including anti-satellite missiles and laser and electronic warfare systems.[77]
Conclusion: The Chinese dilemma
Overall, China is developing a host of technologies that are becoming increasingly essential. Just think of Chinese electric cars, which would be in our best interest as consumers, but which also pose the risk of China taking over this critical sector.
Step back, and a picture emerges: China’s ascent is not confined to rockets or satellites. It encompasses electric cars, green energy, artificial intelligence, social networks, and beyond. One by one, Chinese products are becoming not only competitive, but irresistible.
But what can we do about what China is proposing? Of course, in the West, we could resist—cling to our technologies—although this risks becoming increasingly difficult. But what will the rest of the world do, particularly large countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa? What if they abandoned our technologies in favor of those of the Chinese?
This means that, in the long run, Chinese high-tech products could become as indispensable as anything currently manufactured by Chinese factories.
But this poses serious dangers to our privacy as well as our individual and collective freedoms. By using Chinese electronic services—communication and computer networks, IoT, and more—aren’t we putting ourselves at risk of falling under the control of the Chinese government? Just think of our driving, which is already monitored by manufacturers; will we be comfortable with our comings and goings in Chinese vehicles being monitored by this government? What if it also monitored our communications, our internet browsing, our emails, our lifestyle, purchasing and consumption habits?
Is this the future that awaits us? Otherwise, what and how can we counter the irresistible allure of Chinese-developed technologies? Big questions, with no easy answers!
References (請至原網頁查看參考資料目錄)
The author wishes to thank Philippe Garneau for his valuable collaboration.
Claude Lafleur is a French-Canadian science reporter who has been covering space activities for forty years. He produces the podcast “Voyage dans l’espace“ and publishes statistics and summaries on BlueSky (@claude-lafleur.bsky.social). He can be reached at claude-lafleur1@videotron.ca.
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淺談「星鏈」 -- 胡承渝
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淺談「星鏈」
胡承渝01/22/22
以前聼過 starlink(星鏈)，只知道是 Elon Musk 的新玩意。最近因有朋友提起，去看了一下，才知道其重要。原來在中國慶祝完成北斗系統之時，美國早已開始了下一代的全球通訊系統。
Starlink 要在低高度(500 – 1500Km)地球軌道佈置五層人造衛星網，預計共三萬顆(現已有兩千顆)，用激光互相聯絡。
SpaceX 用可重複使用的獵鷹 9 號火箭，一次發射數十顆衛星，衛星用電離子動力，AI 芯片導引，各自推到預定的位置。
Starlink 有以下的優勢：
1. 因衛星數量大，個別衛星出錯，不會影響整個系統；敵人也無法摧毀整個系統。因而保證平時及戰時的穩定全球通信。
2. 因在低高度軌道，減低信號延遲時間。
3. 重複使用火箭，一次發射數十顆(以後會增加到三、四百顆)，大大降低成本。
4. 先開放民用，提供互聯網服務，馬上就有收入，用以支持後續發展經費。
Starlink以民用為名，可以減少其他國家的反對。然而提供全世界互聯網服務，雖然不太可能有外國政府的顧客，但可收集多少其他國家的商業及社會資料？
更重要的是，將來一定成為軍方及諜報的重要工具。除了確保全球迅速通訊、導航外，在低軌道佈置如此密集的衛星網，有沒有阻擋高軌道通信衛星信號的功能？有沒有干擾及接收全球地面通訊的功能？破壞他國通訊、導航，甚至裝置太空武器？
編後記：
這是承渝兄關於「星鏈」的簡介，3年半前在同一個「論壇」上發表(見本欄上一篇)；標題是我擬定的。我相信很多人跟我一樣，在俄、烏戰爭開打後，久仰「星鏈」大名；但對它一無所知。此文應該能夠有些幫助。承渝兄「預言」了「星鏈」在戰爭中的功能；讓我在他博覽群書之外，對他的功力也敬佩有加。
本文於 修改第 1 次
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中國開始建設低軌衛星互聯網 - 胡承渝
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請參考此文(該欄2025/02/21)。
中國開始建設低軌衛星互聯網
胡承渝， 2025年8月26日
中國開始建立自己的 「星鏈」（Starlink） 低軌衛星系統了。從去年12月到最近，已經發射了 10組 GW 系統的低軌衛星。我注意到以下幾點：
1. 中國非常低調，沒有像其他太空計劃那麽大力宣傳。
2. 發射頻率越來越頻繁，10次中有兩次是在 7月，4 次在 8月。
3. 衛星是由三個不同的單位研發。
4. 火箭在太原、文昌兩個不同的發射場發射。
5. 用了長征 5，6，8，12 四種不同的火箭。
這表示中國急於追趕馬斯克的星鏈。低軌衛星軌道能容納的衛星有限，先到先得。星鏈已有將近一萬顆衛星。中國十次共發了 81顆，任重道遠。馬斯克能一次發射 五、六十顆，中國這十次最多的是一次十顆。而且獵鷹火箭能回收，減低成本；中國回收火箭尚在研究階段。中國在技術上也有待提升。
編後記：
在另一個「論壇上」收到承渝兄分享關於中國航太發展的訊息；這應該是他自己整理寫成，所以沒有出處。轉載於此，謹供參考。
前面提供的參考文章刊出時，因為它屬於一般性的報導；所以置於該欄。上文只關乎中國科技，故轉載於此。
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中國核能技術現況-C. Dulion
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請參閱本欄2025/06/09。
China takes bold step forward in global race for limitless energy device: 'We have fully mastered the core technologies'
China is doubling down on its efforts.
Christine Dulion, 08/04/25
請至原網頁查看照片
China is rapidly closing in on an achievement that could transform the way we power homes, cities, and industries forever.
The country has entered the final assembly phase of a next-generation fusion reactor called the Burning Plasma Experiment Superconducting Tokamak, which is expected to be operational by 2027, per Popular Mechanics.
If it's successful, BEST would mark a major milestone in the race toward achieving fusion energy, a process that mimics the same physics that power the sun.
Unlike conventional energy sources, fusion doesn't rely on fossil fuels such as coal and oil. It's more environmentally friendly because it does not produce heat-trapping pollution or long-lived radioactive waste (like fission energy does) and uses abundant fuel sources such as hydrogen. The potential payoff is limitless, low-cost, renewable power.
According to state media and the South China Morning Post, BEST is an intermediary step between China's earlier tokamak project and a much larger demonstrator called the Chinese Fusion Engineering Test Reactor.
"We have fully mastered the core technologies, both scientifically and technically," chief engineer Song Yuntao told the Post.
In 2022, the United States made global headlines when researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved net energy output from fusion for the first time. China is now doubling down on its own efforts, building not only BEST but a network of other fusion and hybrid reactors.
Fusion energy could someday power entire cities with minimal fuel and near-zero pollution. This would dramatically slash energy costs for residents and businesses while also reducing the amount of heat-trapping gases we generate, which is driving rising global temperatures. That means cleaner air and fewer health issues, such as respiratory and heart diseases, linked to pollution.
While skeptics have said that fusion is always "30 years away," the BEST project and its American counterpart, SPARC — built by a startup spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — are showing real results.
With a target date of 2027, BEST may help bring fusion's promise into the real world much sooner than expected.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
本文於 修改第 3 次
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無限能源不是夢 – V. Booth
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請參閱這篇報導(該欄2025/06/09)。
Scientists edge closer to unleashing virtually unlimited power source — here's when it could finally go live
The innovative reactor could vastly improve the world's sustainability.
Veronica Booth, 06/07/25
Scientists edge closer to unleashing virtually unlimited power source — here's when it could finally go live 請至原網頁觀看實驗室照片
China's Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak fusion reactor aims to create five times the energy output to revolutionize global energy production.
Located in Hefei, China, the "BEST" reactor uses a complex tokamak design. According to Sustainability Times' reporting on May 8, it utilizes a doughnut-shaped vessel that heats plasma to temperatures hotter than on the surface of the sun. It causes hydrogen isotopes to fuse and form helium, which releases massive amounts of energy.
Nuclear fusion is preferable to nuclear fission because it creates less radioactive waste. Radioactive waste must be carefully managed and often requires ample storage space. Eliminating the need for waste management streamlines energy production.
The process also releases minimal harmful gases into the atmosphere. Burning coal, natural gas, and oil creates dangerous carbon pollution. These heat the planet, destabilizing the climate, upsetting ecosystems, and furthering the spread of diseases.
While other fusion projects, such as China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak and the United States' Smallest Possible ARC prototype fusion machine, have made strides, the BEST reactor is a major breakthrough. The United States' SPARC reactor only promises to double its energy output; BEST aims to quintuple its output.
This high energy output could vastly improve the world's sustainability. With fusion, energy would be near-limitless and thus easily accessible and substantially more affordable. People could enjoy lower utility bills and consistent, reliable energy.
The innovative reactor would help slow down climate change and lead to a cleaner, cooler future, while helping people save money and access clean energy. Reducing energy pollution will benefit every human, reducing the health hazards of breathing polluted air or drinking contaminated water.
The BEST reactor is slated for delivery by November 2027, and it could be the beginning of an energy revolution. However, there are ways to embrace innovative clean energy solutions now.
If you want to lower your utility bills and reduce your home's pollution, you can install solar panels. They could bring the cost of home energy down to or near $0.
To get started, use EnergySage's free service that makes it easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers and save up to $10,000 on solar installations.
The environmental benefits of fusion combined with the financial savings and high energy output mean China's BEST reactor could change how we think about and use energy. It's an important leap forward in nuclear fusion technology and a step toward a healthier Earth.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
本文於 修改第 2 次
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登陸月球與火星競賽中國領先 - Louis Friedman
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Moon, Mars — China leads to both
Louis Friedman, 04/18/25
In the Senate hearing considering the confirmation of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator, he and Senator Ted Cruz engaged in extensive dialogue about China. They strongly expressed the view that the United States must get our astronauts back to the moon before the Chinese get theirs there. Isaacman expanded that goal to assert that we should work on sending humans to Mars at the same time.
The six-decade old idea of a space race with astronauts putting footprints on the moon is still with us. It is good for politics, but not good for space development or for national strategy. Whether for commercial concepts like resource mining, or for military strategy like cis-lunar dominance, or scientific purposes like a lunar far side observatory or moon base, activity will be largely robotic, characterized by advanced technology of augmented reality, telerobotics, quantum communications and artificial intelligence. And with robotic missions and progress to a moon base, the Chinese are leading. In this decade they have conducted two lunar sample returns with rovers, including one to the lunar far side. The U.S. has never done a robotic lunar sample return. China has also begun emplacement of the lunar communication infrastructure and initiated first steps in development of the planned International lunar research station. In that same time, the U.S. has cancelled its only planned lunar rover and conducted several attempted smallsat missions with new companies — only one of which has succeeded with a two-week mission.
On Mars, the U.S. has delayed its Mars Sample Return plans, despite the wonderful collection already assembled by its Perseverance rover, while China has actually accelerated its timetable for a Mars Sample Return to launch in 2028.
In speeches, we lead. President Trump, Elon Musk, and now Administrator-designate Isaacman all assert the U.S. human Mars goal. But they do not mention (out of ignorance or convenience) the obvious engineering and scientific requirements for precursor knowledge and testing for a robotic Mars return mission. They do not mention the toxicity of the Martian surface, the terrible health effects of long-duration interplanetary flight, the incredibly thin Martian atmosphere that has to slow down a very-heavy landing vehicle with the humans on board, the closed-loop ecological life support necessary, or the sheer number of rendezvous and in-orbit docking and transfers that will be necessary to test and prove.
All that requires robotic Mars Sample Return — now, so unimportant to NASA as to not even be included in their moon-Mars architecture, and so unimportant to the policy planners as to not being mentioned in the Senate confirmation hearings. The Chinese will beat us with their Mars Sample Return, but we are making no plans for cooperation, either in science or mission development, to boost our program.
If the moon race was about development and utilization, instead of about footprints, we would keep our astronauts in orbit and teleoperate the instruments, vehicles and machines on the surface. We would accomplish more surface operations — faster and at much lower cost — that way. And science investigations, even an astronomical observatory, as well as technologies such as drilling and mining, are inherently robotic, and would be advanced more quickly if teleoperated than if having to be coupled with a human-support system in the hostile lunar or Martian environment.
With the astronauts in orbit, they would be doing what they do best — thinking and controlling, not hopping in space suits and worrying about life support. If the race to Mars were really to get humans there faster, we would not be detouring them to the lunar surface where the entry, descent, landing and environmental conditions are totally different. We would be preparing them for long-duration flights, first in lunar orbit, then with excursions beyond Earth orbit. The notion of a lunar base preparing us for Mars missions is as sensible as a trip to Omaha preparing us for a trek to Nepal.
The human spaceflight goals are symbolic — and the U.S. already won that race a half-century ago. The U.S. now should capitalize on its half century experience of scientific and technological leadership — not to repeat the past, but to create a new kind of space cooperation of humans and robots together on other worlds. Instead, it appears now just the opposite — the Trump administration rejecting science (despite Isaacman’s endorsement of the science program) and robotic missions of exploration including the Mars Sample Return. Not doing Mars Sample Return is a clear statement that we will never be ready to send humans there.
Louis Friedman is the co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus of The Planetary Society. Prior to that he was Manager of Advanced Programs and the post-Viking Mars Program at JPL.
SpaceNews is committed to publishing our community’s diverse perspectives. Whether you’re an academic, executive, engineer or even just a concerned citizen of the cosmos, send your arguments and viewpoints to opinion@spacenews.com to be considered for publication online or in our next magazine.The perspectives shared in these op-eds are solely those of the authors.
Related
Isaacman says NASA should pursue human moon and Mars programs simultaneously
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