Part II: Biotechnology in U.S.-China Competition: A Conversation with Caitlin Frazer

Biotechnology serves as a critical pillar of U.S. national security, necessitating a cohesive national strategy to sustain innovation against global competition. While the United States historically leads in this sector, the absence of a unified regulatory framework and a coordinated national approach creates significant vulnerabilities. Caitlin Frazer, Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, emphasizes the urgency of "bioliteracy" among policymakers to effectively manage the intersection of biological data, AI-driven discovery, and economic prosperity. China’s long-term, state-backed investment and data-centric strategies demand a surgical, bipartisan response, including the proposed $15 billion investment and the creation of a "Web of Biological Data." Beyond economic competition, biotechnology is poised to revolutionize military logistics through advancements like shelf-stable synthetic blood and forward-deployable biomanufacturing, requiring clear ethical guidelines for conventional military applications to ensure long-term strategic resilience.