(https://fonts.googleapis.com) (https://fonts.gstatic.com) (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=Karla%253Awght@300%3B400&family=Montserrat&family=Nanum+Gothic&family=Noto+Sans%253Awght@300&family=Quicksand%253Awght@300%3B400&family=Roboto%253Awght@300%3B400%3B900&family=Playfair+Display%253Aital,wght@0,400..900%3B1,400..900&family=Roboto+.css)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com) China Is Lapping the US in Race To Develop Weather-Changing Technology That Would Be a Powerful Weapon, American Researchers Warn  (index.html)                  (https://ak.sail-horizon.com/)  (https://fonts.googleapis.com/)  (https://use.typekit.net/)  (» Feed) (https://freebeacon.com/feed/)  (» Comments Feed) (https://freebeacon.com/comments/feed/)  (../../../s2.freebeacon.com/inc/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css@ver=6.7.2.css)  (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=Raleway%253Awght@100%3B200%3B300%3B400%3B500%3B600%3B700%3B800%3B900&display=swap&ver=1.0.0.css)  (../../../use.typekit.net/rtu4qhi.css@ver=1.0.0.css)  (../../../s2.freebeacon.com/plug/sailthru-widget/css/widget.subscribe.css@ver=6.7.2.css)  (https://freebeacon.com/wp-json/)  (JSON) (https://freebeacon.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/2162056)  (RSD) (https://freebeacon.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd)   (https://freebeacon.com/?p=2162056)  (oEmbed (JSON)) (https://freebeacon.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffreebeacon.com%2Fchina%2Fchina-is-lapping-the-us-in-race-to-develop-weather-changing-technology-that-would-be-a-powerful-weapon-american-researchers-warn%2F)  (oEmbed (XML)) (https://freebeacon.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffreebeacon.com%2Fchina%2Fchina-is-lapping-the-us-in-race-to-develop-weather-changing-technology-that-would-be-a-powerful-weapon-american-researchers-warn%2F&format=xml)         (../../../s2.freebeacon.com/up/2023/01/cropped-triangle_star_tan_bg-32x32.png)  (../../../s1.freebeacon.com/up/2023/01/cropped-triangle_star_tan_bg-192x192.png)  (https://s2.freebeacon.com/up/2023/01/cropped-triangle_star_tan_bg-180x180.png)       (Washington Free Beacon)   (https://freebeacon.com/) (Washington Free Beacon)    (Washington Free Beacon)    Newsletters  News  Columns  (https://freebeacon.com/type/video/) Video  Search            (https://freebeacon.com/) (Washington Free Beacon)          (https://freebeacon.com/./politics/) Politics  (https://freebeacon.com/./national-security/) National Security  (https://freebeacon.com/arts-culture-opinion/) Culture  (https://freebeacon.com/arts-culture-opinion/) Opinion  (https://freebeacon.com/fact-check/) Fact Check     (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/morning-beacon/) Morning Beacon   (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/weekend-beacon/) Weekend Beacon   (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/stiles-section/) Stiles Section   (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/) Sign Up      (index.html#) Columns (https://freebeacon.com/author/mike-watson/) Mike Watson  (https://freebeacon.com/author/matt/) Matthew Continetti  (https://freebeacon.com/author/washington-free-beacon-editors/) Editorials  (https://freebeacon.com/men-of-the-year/) Men of the Year      (https://freebeacon.com/columns/why-they-hate-us-the-sources-of-terrorist-conduct/) ()   Why They Hate Us: The Sources of Terrorist Conduct   (https://freebeacon.com/columns/civil-war-strategies-in-the-strait-of-hormuz/) ()   Civil War Strategies in the Strait of Hormuz   (https://freebeacon.com/columns/a-cyberattack-that-will-live-in-infamy/) ()   A Cyberattack That Will Live in Infamy      (Search) Search        Search   GO   (https://freebeacon.com/./politics/) Politics  (https://freebeacon.com/./national-security/) National Security  (https://freebeacon.com/arts-culture-opinion/) Culture  (https://freebeacon.com/./policy/) Policy  (https://freebeacon.com/arts-culture-opinion/) Opinion  (https://freebeacon.com/fact-check/) Fact Check  (index.html#) Columns (https://freebeacon.com/author/mike-watson/) Mike Watson  (https://freebeacon.com/author/matt/) Matthew Continetti  (https://freebeacon.com/author/washington-free-beacon-staff/) Editorials  (https://freebeacon.com/men-of-the-year/) Men Of The Year    (index.html#) Newsletters (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/morning-beacon/) Morning Beacon  (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/weekend-beacon/) Weekend Beacon  (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/stiles-section/) Stiles Section  (https://freebeacon.com/newsletters/) Sign Up    (https://freebeacon.com/type/video/) Videos        (https://freebeacon.com/./china/) China    China Is Lapping the US in Race To Develop Weather-Changing Technology That Would Be a Powerful Weapon, American Researchers Warn  So-called solar radiation management could be weaponized to inflict ecological disaster on the US  ()  Chinese flag firework in sky (Getty Images), Xi Jinping (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)   (https://freebeacon.com/author/adam-kredo/) Adam Kredo   September 15, 2026   (http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffreebeacon.com%2Fchina%2Fchina-is-lapping-the-us-in-race-to-develop-weather-changing-technology-that-would-be-a-powerful-weapon-american-researchers-warn%2F)     (https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffreebeacon.com%2Fchina%2Fchina-is-lapping-the-us-in-race-to-develop-weather-changing-technology-that-would-be-a-powerful-weapon-american-researchers-warn%2F&text=China+Is+Lapping+the+US+in+Race+To+Develop+Weather-Changing+Technology+That+Would+Be+a+Powerful+Weapon%2C+American+Researchers+Warn)     (mailto:?to=&body=Please%20read%20this%20article%20from%20the%20Washington%20Free%20Beacon.%20https%3A%2F%2Ffreebeacon.com%2Fchina%2Fchina-is-lapping-the-us-in-race-to-develop-weather-changing-technology-that-would-be-a-powerful-weapon-american-researchers-warn%2F&subject=China%20Is%20Lapping%20the%20US%20in%20Race%20To%20Develop%20Weather-Changing%20Technology%20That%20Would%20Be%20a%20Powerful%20Weapon,%20American%20Researchers%20Warn)     image/svg+xml                    The Chinese military is investing heavily in technology that would actually control the weather, according to a (https://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ACCF_SRM_ChinaV10-1.pdf) new report drawn from previously unseen Chinese documents, hoping to outpace the United States in developing the means to "alter precipitation patterns, disrupt agriculture, and create geopolitical instability if misused," the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) (https://accf.org/new-report-u-s-leadership-on-solar-radiation-management-is-a-national-security-imperative/) reported . Scientists in China and the United States believe they're close to a breakthrough in achieving what's called solar radiation management (SRM), a technology that "is no longer a fringe scientific concept but an emerging strategic domain—one in which technological capacity, research leadership, and governance influence will shape national power and global security," according to the ACCF, a nonpartisan research organization. Scientists now believe the weather-warping phenomenon can be achieved through advanced geoengineering techniques that reflect sunlight. This technology is very different from conventional weather modification techniques, such as cloud seeding, and could be used in tandem with artificial intelligence to significantly alter rain patterns. China has "more than doubled dedicated funding for SRM-focused research" over the past several years and, in 2026 alone, elevated these projects as a "national-security priority" to ensure its dominance in the field, according to the ACCF report. Drawing on Chinese-language materials "largely unreported in English until now," the ACCF documented how the CCP has shifted from "broad exploratory work" on SRM projects to "a larger, more focused national research program" that will position China as the global leader in the field. This outcome would be a clear national security risk for the United States and its Western allies. If China maintains its lead in developing emerging SRM technologies, it would create an uneven playing field in which the CCP has free rein to crush Western competitors in a dual-use technology applicable to modern warfare. "The alternative to U.S. and allied leadership is not a neutral, benign vacuum," the ACCF warned in its report. "It is a field increasingly shaped by an actor that is investing in focused SRM capabilities and seeking influence over related standards and governance." While the "window for democratic leadership" on SRM issues remains open for now, "that window is narrowing" as China pours millions into these projects. The leading SRM method is achieved through stratospheric aerosol injection, in which sulfur dioxide or similar chemicals are sprayed into the atmosphere to scatter sunlight, reducing temperatures on the ground. But it comes with profound risks that could "alter rainfall patterns, shift monsoons, affect ozone chemistry, or trigger 'termination shock' if aerosol injection were abruptly halted," the ACCF explained in a separate (https://accf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ACCF_SRM_TechnologyV5.pdf) report from February. These techniques could be weaponized by China to inflict ecological disaster on its enemies. While China has been researching SRM technology for the past 15 years, it has noticeably prioritized these projects in recent years, integrating them into the country's wider military industrial complex. By 2024, largely unreported Chinese research materials show, the PRC's Ministry of Science and Technology "significantly increased funding" to SRM projects totaling upwards of $5 million. This increase suggests the CCP is quietly working to gain the upper hand technologically and establish itself as a regulatory authority in place of the United States, which in many cases has banned this research on the state level. "This funding boost—together with the comments and activities of PRC researchers working in the PRC and abroad—strongly signal the PRC's recognition that SRM is an emerging critical technology likely to present both great opportunity as well as challenges," according to the ACCF report. "These developments suggest that non-PRC stakeholders hoping to play leading roles in the future of key climate technologies such as SRM should take note of the PRC's SRM initiatives, as well as consider increasing their own and their allies' focus and engagement." The CCP's "substantial shift" in funding in 2024 went toward "two SRM-focused research projects" and represented "well over double" the amount China was spending just a decade earlier.    "The significance lies not only in the larger 2024 budget compared to the 2015 budget, but in the narrower focus," the ACCF explained, noting that recent Chinese research projects focus specifically on SRM technologies such as "stratospheric aerosol injection and low-cloud radiative intervention." China has also sought to monitor U.S. government research, as it is known to do through covert intelligence operations and also direct partnerships with American universities and government labs. In recent years, the ACCF wrote, "several PRC scientists that focus on SRM-relevant topics have visited or worked in U.S. government agencies and research institutes conducting SRM research, as well as other labs." At least some of those scientists carried on this work upon returning to China. The CCP entities leading this work are also notable. They include "the highest agencies of the Communist Party of China … and the PRC central government ruled by the CCP," the ACCF found. The increased funding, combined with a state-driven research focus, shows that China is employing the same playbook that has allowed it to dominate other cutting-edge technology sectors that it considers pivotal. "SRM is no longer a fringe scientific idea; it is an emerging strategic domain," ACCF president and CEO George David Banks said in March. "If the United States fails to lead in shaping transparent, science-based governance, others will set the rules in ways that may not align with American interests." Published under: (https://freebeacon.com/tag/ai/) (View all posts in AI) AI   , (https://freebeacon.com/tag/artificial-intelligence/) (View all posts in Artificial Intelligence) Artificial Intelligence   , (https://freebeacon.com/tag/china/) (View all posts in China) China   , (https://freebeacon.com/tag/national-security/) (View all posts in National Security) National Security   , (https://freebeacon.com/tag/weather/) (View all posts in Weather) Weather           ADVERTISEMENT      ADVERTISEMENT          (Most Popular)   (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/i-dont-wanna-pay-it-back-socialist-senate-nominee-angie-nixon-says-its-crazy-she-has-to-pay-her-taxes-and-student-loans/) (‘I Don't Wanna Pay It Back’: Socialist Senate Nominee Angie Nixon Says It's ‘Crazy’ She Has To Pay Her Taxes And Student Loans)   (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/i-dont-wanna-pay-it-back-socialist-senate-nominee-angie-nixon-says-its-crazy-she-has-to-pay-her-taxes-and-student-loans/) ‘I Don't Wanna Pay It Back’: Socialist Senate Nominee Angie Nixon Says It's ‘Crazy’ She Has To Pay Her Taxes And Student Loans   Nixon laments the injustice of having to pay her own fair share as she campaigns on raising taxes on the wealthy  (https://freebeacon.com/author/andrew-kerr/) Andrew Kerr   - September 14, 2026     (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/abdul-el-sayed-promoted-infamous-hijab-hate-crime-hoax-despite-warnings-from-police/) (Abdul El-Sayed Promoted Infamous Hijab Hate Crime Hoax, Despite Warnings from Police)   (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/abdul-el-sayed-promoted-infamous-hijab-hate-crime-hoax-despite-warnings-from-police/) Abdul El-Sayed Promoted Infamous Hijab Hate Crime Hoax, Despite Warnings from Police   The Democrat has a long history of making unverified and false claims alleging anti-Muslim discrimination  (https://freebeacon.com/author/chuck-ross/) Chuck Ross   - September 14, 2026      (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/aoc-rashida-tlaib-spent-thousands-at-israel-bashing-palestinian-restaurant-that-serves-wines-from-hezbollah-stronghold-many-far-left-dems-splurged-at-michelin-starred-spots/) (AOC, Rashida Tlaib Spent Thousands at Israel-Bashing Palestinian Restaurant That Serves Wines from Hezbollah Stronghold: Many Far-Left Dems Splurged at Michelin-Starred Spots)   (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/aoc-rashida-tlaib-spent-thousands-at-israel-bashing-palestinian-restaurant-that-serves-wines-from-hezbollah-stronghold-many-far-left-dems-splurged-at-michelin-starred-spots/) AOC, Rashida Tlaib Spent Thousands at Israel-Bashing Palestinian Restaurant That Serves Wines from Hezbollah Stronghold: Many Far-Left Dems Splurged at Michelin-Starred Spots   A Free Beacon review found that some of the most left-wing members of Congress spent mounds of campaign cash at ultra-luxurious big-city restaurants  (https://freebeacon.com/author/jon-levine/) Jon Levine   - September 14, 2026      (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/mommys-little-senate-candidate-may-have-taken-his-first-steps-toward-financial-adulthood/) (Mommy's Little Senate Candidate May Have Taken His First Steps Toward Financial Adulthood)   (https://freebeacon.com/democrats/mommys-little-senate-candidate-may-have-taken-his-first-steps-toward-financial-adulthood/) Mommy's Little Senate Candidate May Have Taken His First Steps Toward Financial Adulthood    (https://freebeacon.com/author/andrew-stiles/) Andrew Stiles   - September 14, 2026     (https://freebeacon.com/energy/trump-epa-moves-to-permanently-eliminate-greenhouse-gas-emissions-rules-for-power-plants-gutting-bidens-signature-environmental-policies/) (Trump EPA Moves To Permanently Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rules for Power Plants, Gutting Biden’s Signature Environmental Policies)   (https://freebeacon.com/energy/trump-epa-moves-to-permanently-eliminate-greenhouse-gas-emissions-rules-for-power-plants-gutting-bidens-signature-environmental-policies/) Trump EPA Moves To Permanently Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rules for Power Plants, Gutting Biden’s Signature Environmental Policies   The agency is also axing Biden-era rules that would have forced coal-fired plants to shutter and gas-fired plants to complete costly environmental upgrades  (https://freebeacon.com/author/thomas-catenacci/) Thomas Catenacci   - September 14, 2026          (https://freebeacon.com/) (The Washington Free Beacon)    (https://freebeacon.com/about/) About Us  (https://freebeacon.com/masthead/) Masthead  (mailto:press@freebeacon.com?subject=Advertise%20with%20Free%20Beacon&body=First%20and%20Last%20Name:%20%0D%0ACompany:%20%0D%0APhone%20Number:%20%0D%0AEmail%20Address:%20%0D%0A) Advertise With Us      (https://freebeacon.com/terms-of-use/) Terms of Use  (https://freebeacon.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy         2026 All Rights Reserved  X (FB Substack) (https://freebeacon.substack.com/) The Washington Free Beacon Subscribe to the Morning Beacon, where Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Eliana Johnson breaks down the news the way the mainstream media won't—right in your inbox, every day.   By subscribing you agree to (https://freebeacon.substack.com/tos?utm_source=embed_publication) Substack's Terms of Use , (https://freebeacon.substack.com/privacy?utm_source=embed_publication) our Privacy Policy and (https://substack.com/ccpa?utm_source=embed_publication#personal-data-collected) our Information collection notice  (https://substack.com/?utm_source=embed&utm_content=freebeacon) (FB Substack)