US Teams Up With Japan In Race Against China For Quantum Tech Superiority

Quantum technology an increasingly critical battleground in US-China superpower rivalry

- Walter Sim

TOKYO - US President Donald Trump continues to keep Japan guessing about the extent of the tariffs he intends to levy on the security ally.

A much-touted meeting between Mr Trump and Nippon Steel executives over the latter's "heavy investment" in faded American industrial icon US Steel — rather than a buyout as was intended — has not yet materialised.

Dark clouds continue to gather amid the uncertainties of bilateral trade and business ties despite the first summit between Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Mr Trump on Feb 7.

But one bright spot has emerged.

The US and Japan are making headway in quantum technology development, with the backing of SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son, who attended Mr Trump's inauguration and has pledged to invest US$100 billion (S$135 billion) in US projects over four years.

Quantum technology was highlighted as a key priority area at the Feb 7 summit, with a joint statement pledging that Japan and the US will "strengthen their industrial bases and collaborate to lead the world in developing critical technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and leading-edge semiconductors".

This was with the ultimate goal to "chart an unwavering course for strengthening economic ties and elevating the economic partnership to the next level", the statement added.

Quantum technology may be esoteric, but has potential applications across industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, logistics, finance and even defence.

The shift from conventional computers — including high-performing machines such as supercomputers — to quantum computers has been likened to mankind's move from analogue to digital.

It comes as no surprise that quantum is thus an increasingly critical battleground for technological supremacy in the US-China superpower competition and is regarded as a highly sensitive industry.