China on verge of becoming a scientific superpower

The United States National Science Foundation and the National Science Board have just released their biennial Science and Engineering Indicators, a voluminous document describing the state of American technology. There are facts and figures on research and development, innovation and engineers. But the report’s main conclusion lies elsewhere: China has become – or is on the verge of becoming – a scientific and technical superpower, writes Robert J Samuelson for The Washington Post. More...