Last year was bookended with espionage and cyberattacks by China. At the beginning of 2023, a Chinese spy balloon traveled across America gathering sensitive U.S. information, and now 2023 ended with news that Chinese-linked hackers have been targeting and infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure throughout the year.

Any cyberattack can have national security, economic, military, and geopolitical ramifications, so it’s clear China is one of America’s biggest threats. The key to staying ahead of China on all these fronts is technology.

Technology underpins our national and cyber security. It strengthens and modernizes our military, and it helps our businesses and economy grow and flourish — all leading to a greater geopolitical standing in the world.

China is forging ahead and relying on technology to propel itself as a world leader, and the United States must do the same. However, a new report from the Competitive Enterprise Institute finds that the Federal Trade Commission is pursuing policies that would slow innovation and jeopardize U.S. leadership in developing emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

Technology has created a network of innovators who are contributing to the growth of the U.S. economy, strengthening our military and positioning America as a leader in developing future technologies. If the United States fails to maintain its innovative edge, China will step in and take the lead in developing new and transformative technologies. This will result in China’s economy flourishing, its military strengthening, and its global influence expanding.

Our leaders in Washington should not be handing China an edge in this growing technological, economic and military competition with China. American technology companies need support from Washington and must be able to operate in an environment that allows them to innovate, grow, and develop new technologies.

James Warren, Salem

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