China surpasses U.S. in biotech, prompting urgent federal action

USA – China has pulled ahead of the United States in critical areas of biotechnology, prompting urgent calls for federal action from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.

In a comprehensive report submitted to Congress and the White House, the bipartisan commission—composed of lawmakers, scientists, and former defense officials.

It warns that China’s strategic investments and growing integration of artificial intelligence into life sciences have propelled it into a leadership position in this vital sector.

The report frames the issue as not just economic or scientific, but one of national security, with implications for public health, food systems, and military preparedness.

According to the commission, the U.S. may have only a narrow window—just a few years—to regain its footing before falling irreversibly behind.

The report outlines a series of sweeping recommendations to counter China’s momentum. Chief among them is the creation of a National Biotechnology Coordination Office housed within the White House to centralize policy and oversight.

It also advocates for a federally backed investment fund to support startups developing biotechnology aligned with national interests and calls for restrictions on Chinese suppliers in projects involving defense or health agencies.

The report underscores that biotechnology is not just an industry of the future but a geopolitical lever that could be exploited if dominated by a strategic competitor.

China’s two-decade prioritization of biotechnology, coupled with its AI capabilities, is enabling it to achieve rapid breakthroughs while U.S. firms face tightening investment and regulatory uncertainty.

This technological advantage could allow Beijing to manipulate or even weaponize biotechnology in ways that threaten U.S. interests.

The commission’s findings emerge as Congress continues to debate how aggressively to curtail Chinese influence in critical sectors.

A previous attempt to ban federal contracts with certain Chinese biotech firms stalled in 2024, but the issue is expected to regain urgency as biotechnology becomes a focal point of national security strategy, including in upcoming tariff decisions on pharmaceuticals.

Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the commission, is expected to stress the importance of swift, coordinated action in upcoming congressional testimony, stating, “Our strategy is two-fold: make America innovate faster, and slow China down.”

As the report bluntly puts it: “There is time to act, but no time to wait.”