Physicists in China raise concerns over the latest US trade restrictions targeting the country's quantum research sector, warning of significant repercussions on scientific advancements, per the South China Morning Post.
The US Commerce Department recently issued a revised list of entities subject to export controls, including 22 Chinese organizations engaged in quantum research and industrialization.
The newly added entities, listed under the "Entity List," face restrictions on purchasing materials and equipment from US companies, posing challenges to China's quantum research.
Yin Zhangqi, a physicist at the Beijing Institute of Technology, describes the inclusion of virtually all of China's core strengths in quantum information research as "huge," indicating the magnitude of the impact.
The move is the second time quantum-related entities from China have been added to the trade blacklist, with the scope now broader than before, according to Chinese scientists.
The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security justifies the additions, stating that the activities of these entities threaten US national security due to their possible military applications.
The Impact Of US Trade Restrictions On Chinese Quantum Research
Among the entities on the list is Origin Quantum Computing Technology, known for its contributions to China's quantum computing research and industrial applications, founded by leading quantum physicists from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).
USTC, on the other hand, is known for its pioneering work in domestic quantum research and has nurtured numerous start-ups and scientific breakthroughs.
Now, the impact of the trade restrictions extends to practical aspects, as seen in delays in receiving ordered equipment like lasers or other essential materials for research activities.
While tightening US containment measures may pose obstacles to academic exchanges and publications in top journals, Chinese researchers remain determined to advance quantum research domestically.
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