China has blown the roof off in large scale quantum communications. What is the US doing about it?

I admit, this is very cool. Long-distance quantum communications, nearly hack-proof, with research underway for necessary quantum repeaters, which will, in theory, make the system 100% hackproof. As large scale quantum communications is still in its formative stages, a lot more has to be done to improve the technology and improve the price point (the article you can read by clicking the hyperlink at the end of this post explains some of these issues in more detail), but the point is, China has beaten everyone to the punch with this, and they've more than doubled down on their investment in this technology. Meanwhile, with the current administration's apparent determination to cut R&D funding largely across the board here in the US, as Walter Copan, the NIST director, implies, means we're competing with, and having to play catchup with, the EU and China now. As the article asks, is China the leader? I think the answer is obvious. More importantly, in how many technology areas are they already now the leader in as well, and how many more within the next five years? Their technology base has grown exponentially over the past one to two decades, and they’re moving at a historic speed in terms of technology development. Unless the U.S. reverses direction and starts emphasizing and funding substantial technological and scientific research again, seeking innovation we once consistently displayed, we could be in danger of becoming somewhat irrelevant as many countries throughout the world fight to pass us by. And this concerns me a lot, and quite a few other people as well. I know many people have given this a lot of thought, as well as in many other areas and issues as they pertain to China and its ambitions, but I’ve read too much research and too many studies that indicate a pretty grim prognosis – unless wholesale changes are made in the U.S. to reverse course and ante up substantial investment in R&D. Will this happen under the current administration? It’s hard to believe that’s likely, which is tremendously worrisome. My hope is that some people infinitely more influential than myself will grab the ears of some movers and shakers in Washington, show them how things are trending, how things may look just several years from now, and convince the right people that not only do we need to invest in our military – and changes and upgrades are needed and being made there – but we need to invest in our R&D to regain and maintain our technological edge over like minded entities throughout the world. The question is, will this happen? Can and will we commit ourselves to a long-term technology race with China, India, and other countries? I know what I want the answer to be, and I’m sure that’s shared by many. I’m just concerned that vision may not compute, and if that is the case, I fear for the future.

https://www.insidescience.org/news/china-leader-quantum-communications 

-- Scott C. Holstad