China invests record $583 billion in science and tech as US administration seeks research cuts

What happened

China increased research and development spending by 8.2% in 2025, pushing total investment above $583 billion as Beijing expands support for basic science, universities and strategic technologies. The latest figures from China’s National Bureau of Statistics highlight a growing contrast with the US, where the Trump administration has proposed steep cuts to federal research budgets, including reductions of 39% for the National Institutes of Health and 55% for the National Science Foundation in its proposed 2026 budget.

China’s spending remains second only to that of the US in absolute terms, but its sustained investment in scientific research and industrial development is strengthening its position in the competition over semiconductors, AI and other advanced technologies. Basic research recorded the largest percentage increase among the three main categories, rising 13.3% year over year to roughly $40 billion. Despite that growth, basic research still accounted for just over 7% of total R&D spending.