U.S. and China are on the list of companies that cooperate in quantum computer development…

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it has added 12 Chinese companies to its trade blacklist, or so-called entity list, because of national security concerns. These companies are said to be supporting the Chinese military’s response to quantum computers.

In the entity list announced on November 24, 27 new companies were added from 4 countries: China, Pakistan, Singapore and Japan. Also among Chinese and Pakistani companies are 13 companies engaged in nuclear development or ballistic missile programs in Pakistan. Among them, a Japanese company is an affiliate of a Chinese company called Corrad Technology. Corrad Technologies is on the list for selling US technology for the Iranian military space program in 2019. Most of the other companies tried to steal US new technologies for the purpose of using quantum computers, such as developing Chinese military anti-submarine weapons, and, in contrast, developing unbreakable passwords. In addition, Pakistan includes three companies believed to be cooperating in unsafe nuclear activities.

Commerce Secretary Gina Lamondo said in a statement that international trade should support peace, prosperity and decent employment, not national security risks.

U.S. suppliers of parts and other goods to entities listed on the entity list must be licensed in advance. However, the US Department of Commerce’s Occupational Safety and Security Administration (BIS) is unlikely to approve it. In order to use quantum computers militarily, it is necessary to research and develop them in the future. Therefore, the entity list registration alone cannot prevent the military use of quantum computers in the future. Nevertheless, stopping the supply of US processors and related equipment to help with development leads to weakening the flow of quantum computers for military use in China even a little.

The US thinks that China’s quantum computer development will be an obstacle to the US’s superiority in terms of military as well as economic aspects. Related information can be found here.