German media: In rankings compiled by the journal Nature after evaluating academic publications, China has replaced its long-standing rival, the United States, to claim the top spot.

In the rankings compiled by Nature following evaluations of academic publications, China has surpassed its longtime competitor, the United States, to take first place. Beijing aims to leverage its technological advantages to gain greater influence on the global stage—impact that may extend beyond Earth itself.

Astronaut Li Jiaying, a former Hong Kong police officer, orbits Earth approximately 16 times daily at an altitude of about 390 kilometers. At age 43, she is carrying out missions aboard China’s "Tiangong" space station alongside two other astronauts from mainland China.

Just as in the 1950s and 1960s during the Cold War-era "space race," today’s aerospace sector is witnessing a contest of ideologies. China has now taken over the role once held by the Soviet Union in the Cold War, competing directly with the United States. By no later than 2032, when the International Space Station (ISS) is decommissioned, China will be the only nation operating an orbital space station.

China leads the rankings

Space exploration is just one of many areas where China is leading globally. According to Nature's 2025 rankings based on assessments of academic publications, China’s overall score significantly surpasses those of second- and third-ranked countries, the United States and Germany.

In institutional rankings, nine of the top ten institutions are from China, with only Harvard University in the U.S. ranking third. Germany’s Max Planck Society ranks 13th.

Christina Beck, spokesperson for the Max Planck Society, stated: “Today, wherever you look at international academic rankings, Chinese universities and research institutions lead in numerous fields.”

The Nature rankings show that Chinese research institutions are unequivocal leaders in biology, chemistry, physics, and applied sciences. The United States holds a slight edge only in health and social sciences.

Results of massive investment

Dr. Richard Heidler, head of information management at the German Research Foundation (DFG), said China’s upward trajectory has been consistent over the past two decades.

"The key lies in China’s systematic, long-term funding of academic institutions and universities—particularly through international training programs for researchers and substantial investments in large-scale scientific infrastructure."

China’s five-year economic development plan through 2030 identifies eight future core sectors: artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, controlled nuclear fusion energy, life sciences and biotechnology, brain science research, prevention and pharmaceutical development for major diseases, deep-sea and polar research, and deep-space exploration.

Academia and ideology

On the last of these fronts, the U.S. and China are locked in intense competition aiming for lunar landing. Beijing plans to achieve a crewed moon landing before 2030. It remains uncertain whether NASA will meet its timeline for landing on the Moon via the "Artemis Mission" by 2028.

Daniel Voelsen of the Berlin-based Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) wrote in his latest study: “Technology can serve as a tool to establish cross-border spheres of influence.”

21st-century space exploration also features ideological competition. Due to the 2011 “Wolf Amendment,” NASA is prohibited from collaborating with China’s space agency. Likewise, the European Space Agency (ESA), mindful of transatlantic alliance dynamics, has avoided cooperation with China—even though ESA astronauts have previously learned Chinese to train together with their Chinese counterparts.

"Policy guidelines"

The German Federal Ministry of Education, Research, and Space has established policy guidelines for international collaboration projects with China.

The ministry stated there must be clear boundaries “in sensitive areas”—for example, cooperation in dual-use technologies, or artificial intelligence applications capable of surveillance or human rights abuses. The ministry notes that China is increasingly becoming a strategic competitor; academic collaborations with China must therefore involve careful assessment of risks versus benefits.

Building partnerships

Beck of the Max Planck Society said: “We wish to maintain cooperation in research areas free from dual-use concerns.” For instance, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Guizhou, China—the world’s largest radio telescope with a diameter equivalent to five football fields—provides unique infrastructure access. “This collaboration allows us to utilize this unparalleled facility.”

Meanwhile, Beck noted that China’s domestic political situation, escalating geopolitical tensions, and especially the close integration between military and civilian research pose new challenges for German academic institutions seeking partnerships with Chinese counterparts. The Max Planck Society aims to build cooperation with China based on principles of “informed, responsible, and strategic” engagement.

Dr. Ingrid Krüßmann of the DFG’s Sino-German Academic Promotion Center also emphasized: “The DFG is committed to providing German scholars with the safest possible environment for research, ensuring that excellent collaborative projects with Chinese partners remain viable in principle.”

Following astronaut Li Jiaying from Hong Kong, foreign astronauts will make their first visit to China’s space station this October, staying for six months. Two Pakistani astronauts are preparing for the Shenzhou-24 mission. Signals from Earth orbit will indicate: political blocs are being formed even in space. Pakistan is a close ally of Beijing.

Source: DW

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868832239818777/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the views of the author(s).