Supercomputing in China

China has emerged as a global leader in supercomputering, achieving significant milestones in both the quantity and performance of its high-performance computing (HPC) systems. From the early 2000s, China rapidly ascended the TOP500 rankings, with notable achievements such as the Tianhe-1A securing the top position in 2010^[1] and the Sunway TaihuLight leading in 2016^[2].

By 2018, China had the highest number of supercomputers listed on the TOP500, reflecting its commitment to advancing computational capabilities across various sectors, including scientific research, industrial applications, and national defense.^[3] However, this progress has been met with challenges, notably from U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing China's access to advanced computing technologies.^[4] Since 2019, after the U.S. began levying sanctions on several Chinese companies involving with supercomputing, public information on the state of supercomputing in China had become less available.^[5]

China's supercomputing infrastructure is supported by a network of national centers located in cities like Tianjin, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wuxi. These centers not only bolster the nation's scientific and technological endeavors but may also play a pivotal role in its strategic objectives, including military modernization and the pursuit of technological sovereignty.^[6]