US stops trading with eight Chinese quantum computing groups

Soon: The United States Department of Commerce has prohibited transactions with 27 foreign entities based in China, Japan, Pakistan and Singapore. Eight are developing quantum computing technologies, which the United States has now recognized as a national security problem.

The eight entities that develop quantum computing technologies They were found to search for possible military applications on behalf of the Chinese government. Three of them were found to be acquiring or attempting to acquire American technologies to assist them.

The Commerce Department believes that quantum computing could support a number of military applications that China is interested in, including “anti-stealth and anti-submarine applications, and the ability to break encryption or develop unbreakable encryption.”

One of the eight entities was the quantum computing branch of the China University of Science and Technology, which reclaimed having built the world’s fastest quantum computer earlier this year. He theorized that the computer was two or three times faster than the best in America.

Several of the entities have downplayed the bans. QuantumCTek describes the situation as “manageable”, according to Nikkei Asia. He said that because it owns the essential technologies and relies primarily on Chinese sources, it was never dependent on the US.

Of the 19 Non-quantum computing entities that were also banned, three were Chinese-owned companies based in China, Japan and Singapore that sold American technology to Iran’s military and space programs and North Korean front companies.

The remaining 16 were blacklisted because they have contributed to Pakistan’s “unprotected nuclear activities or ballistic missile program”. Some are based in Pakistan, while others are Chinese. Interestingly, one was a refrigeration and air conditioning company.

In addition to the list of prohibited entities, the Department of Commerce also maintains a list of entities that have a military end user (MEU) for their products. The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology has been added to that list.