U.S. and China Locked in High-Stakes Race to Harness Fusion Energy
December 15, 2025
The race to develop nuclear fusion — a potentially limitless and clean source of power — is heating up, with China aggressively scaling up investment and research in ways that are forcing the United States to respond. Recent reporting highlights how Chinese government planners and scientists are pouring substantial resources into fusion science, aiming to translate decades of experimental progress into commercially viable reactors. Meanwhile, U.S. researchers and private companies are also advancing fusion technologies, but leaders in the field warn that sustained federal support will be crucial to keep pace with Beijing’s momentum.
In China, government-led projects and partnerships are pushing forward multiple fusion pathways, including magnetic confinement and inertial approaches. One example of this work is the ongoing development of advanced tokamak devices — often dubbed “artificial suns” — which have already set plasma stability records that showcase progress toward long-duration fusion conditions. At the same time, fusion advocates in the U.S. have urged Congress and federal agencies to commit significantly more funding and coordination, pointing to the strategic importance of fusion not just for clean energy but also for broader technological competitiveness. If China continues to outspend and outscale its fusion programs, observers say it could secure an early lead in the clean energy of the future, with implications for global energy systems, national security, and economic leadership.
