China intensifies push to become world leader in tech and AI

China pledged to use extraordinary measures to support its goal of becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and other cutting-edge technological fields. The commitment appears in the country's 15th five-year plan. The plan was passed by the top legislature in Beijing on Thursday and published on Friday. It will run from 2026 to 2030 and serves as China's overarching blueprint. Many researchers noted an air of confidence in the plan. Meicen Sun, an information scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said five years ago the sentiment among Chinese science policymakers was that they did not want to be too far behind the United States and were still catching up. She said there is now a more palpable sentiment that there is a real chance China can be a true leader.