United States: Biden promotes innovation and research law to counter China’s influence on technological development

US Senate set to pass massive industrial policy bill on Tuesday aimed at countering the growing economic threat from the Chinese regime, breaking through partisan divisions to inject more than $ 170 billion into research and development.

The measure, one of the key provisions of which addresses the semiconductor shortage that has slowed auto production this year, is seen as crucial. for America’s efforts to avoid being overtaken by Beijing in the race for technological innovation.

With the two American political parties increasingly concerned about competition from the biggest Asian power, the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck schumer, expressed confidence in a strong bipartisan vote to endorse the US Competition and Innovation Act.

“The bill will go down in history as one of the most important things this chamber has done in a long time, a declaration of faith in America’s ability to seize the opportunities of the 21st century “Schumer told the full Senate.

“Whoever wins the race for the technologies of the future will be the world economic leader, with profound consequences also for foreign policy and national security”he added.

The bill is expected to return to the House of Representatives, where it originated, for a final vote. It is expected to gain congressional approval and be promulgated by President Joe Biden.

The proposal aims to address a number of technological areas where the United States has fallen behind its Chinese competitors., including the production of semiconductors.

The law project allocates $ 52,000 million to fund a pre-approved plan to increase domestic manufacturing of these components.

It also authorizes $ 120 billion over five years for the activities of the National Science Foundation. to advance priorities, including research and development in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum science.

“Anyone who takes advantage of technologies such as AI and quantum computing – and unheard of innovations – will shape the world in their image.“, Said Schumer, before criticizing the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.

A summary of the invoice notes how the Chinese Communist Party “is aggressively investing over $ 150 billion” in semiconductor manufacturing to control advanced technology.

At the start of the debate over the project last month, Schumer warned that Authoritarian governments believe that “struggling democracies” like the United States cannot face the present moment and invest in national priorities like a centralized government does.

“Either we cede the mantle of world leadership to our adversaries or we open the way for another generation of American leaders. This is what this bill is all about, ”he said on Tuesday.

Although the top Republican in the Senate, Mitch mcconnell, stressed that the measure was still “incomplete”, it looks like it will be largely outdated, which shows that the United States’ competition with its growing geopolitical rival, China, is one of the few issues that can unite Republicans and Democrats at odds.

With information from AFP

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