To beat China, America needs a full-scale innovation strategy
By Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Sen. Kent Conrad | Roll Call | May 2, 2025
For the past 80 years, America has led the world in innovation, driving global progress through our technology, talent and values.
But the latest “Annual Threat Assessment” report by the U.S. intelligence community finds that China is now our top strategic competitor and technology is a central battleground.
To win that tech race, the U.S. needs a full-scale innovation strategy that ensures American leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and clean energy.
Since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012, China has been maniacally focused on winning this tech race through a series of comprehensive, state-driven strategies. These include:
- “Made in China 2025” to dominate advanced manufacturing;
- “Internet Plus Plan” to accelerate semiconductor growth, cyber strength and drive high-tech innovation;
- “New Generation AI Development Plan” to lead in AI by 2030; and
- “China Standards 2035 Plan” to control global rules for next-generation technologies.
What’s more, the Chinese Communist Party is investing trillions of dollars in these strategies, building national champions, subsidizing research and embedding Chinese tech into global supply chains.
By contrast, America’s approach has been piecemeal.
But we need a coordinated national effort — a modern-day moonshot — because the race for tech leadership isn’t just about economic growth; it’s about national security, global influence and which values will shape the digital future.
To seize this moment, lawmakers must embrace a bold, five-part strategy to supercharge American innovation, protect our tech edge and win the race against China. While innovation spans many technologies, this agenda focuses on AI because it is the linchpin of future economic, geopolitical and technological leadership.
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