The Wassenaar Arrangement, marking its 30th anniversary this year, is a crucial international regime that governs the export of weapons and advanced technologies among its 42 member states, including almost all developed Western countries along with nations that have close ties to China like Russia and developing nations like India. The relevance of the arrangement is heightened by China's rapid advancements in military technology, which have allowed it to catch up with, and in some aspects surpass, Western capabilities, particularly in areas such as hypersonic missile technology and high-power laser weapons.

This advancing technology comes against the backdrop of China's strategic push for self-reliance in defense capabilities, which has raised questions about whether China will seek to join the Wassenaar Arrangement or potentially undermine its framework. With China becoming a significant player in the production of semiconductors and quantum computing technologies, potential implications for global security and technological balance could arise if China were to operate outside the established norms of the arrangement or if it decides to participate in shaping those rules.

The article highlights the tension between China's ambitions in military advancement and the regulatory frameworks designed to control the proliferation of such technologies. As China navigates this landscape, its decisions regarding engagement with the Wassenaar Arrangement could have far-reaching impacts on international defense collaboration, arms control, and the future of military technological development worldwide.