Beijing has rapidly advanced its fusion energy R&D and efforts toward deploying fusion on an industrial level.
The tens of billions of yuan invested in the fusion sector have catapulted China's nuclear fusion program into a world leader.
While US fusion efforts may still be making more scientific breakthroughs, China is preparing for the future industrial and potentially commercial deployment of fusion.
This has alarmed policymakers in Washington, where the race toward fusion is increasingly viewed in a geostrategic lens.
Author's summary: China leads in fusion energy.