US NSF 2016 global S&T statistics: China already number 2 in most disciplines.

Global R & D expenditure in the world in purchasing power parity accounts for about 20% for China, after 27% of the United States, 10 % for Japan and 6 % for Germany. In talent building, China may now be number one with 50 % of all doctorates issued in science and engineering (USA: about 33 %, EU: about 12 %).

CAS news release, February 25, 2016