China's 15th Five-Year Plan Names Fusion Among Eight National 'Frontier Technology' Priorities

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) formally designates fusion energy as one of eight national 'frontier technology' priorities, alongside artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced materials. The plan is backed by over $6.5 billion in government fusion investment since 2023. New fusion facilities — including the BEST tokamak — are under construction as part of China's accelerating programme. The designation builds on China's record-setting plasma research: EAST achieved 1,066 seconds at over 100 million°C in January 2025, and the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) is in engineering development targeting a 2 GW test reactor by approximately 2035. The 15th FYP prioritisation signals that China intends to sustain and grow fusion investment at a pace matching or exceeding Western government programmes combined, making the fusion energy race increasingly multipolar.