Teleportation

Why We Don’t Have Teleporters Yet (And Why They Might Turn China Into a Trade Superpower)

Teleportation: It’s been the dream of every sci-fi fan and weary traveler alike. Imagine stepping into a booth in New York and emerging in Beijing seconds later, skipping over the drudgery of airports, customs, and jet lag. But despite decades of futuristic fiction—from Star Trek to Half-Life 2—the reality of teleportation remains firmly beyond our grasp.

So, why don’t we have teleporters yet? And if we did, would they really be used to zip people around the globe, or would they serve more pragmatic purposes, like boosting trade? Let's dive into the science, geopolitics, and technology behind the idea—and why teleportation, especially for humans, might be further off than we hope.

The Science of Teleportation: It’s (Really) Complicated

The first thing we have to understand is that teleportation, in any form, isn’t just about popping from Point A to Point B. It involves breaking down matter, transmitting it across space, and reassembling it perfectly. In theory, quantum teleportation—a real thing that happens on the atomic level—gives us a glimpse of how information can be transferred instantly. But quantum teleportation only moves information, not matter. And transferring the “information” of a human body is no small feat.

Humans are made up of about 37 trillion cells, each with its own structure, function, and placement. To teleport a human, we would need to break down every atom in the body, transmit that data (essentially recreating the person atom-for-atom), and then reconstruct them exactly in another location. Miss one atom and, well, you probably wouldn’t survive the process.

But the bigger challenge lies in data transmission. The human body’s atomic data would be astronomically large—much larger than anything we currently transmit through even the most advanced internet systems. As of today, our fastest fiber-optic and satellite communications systems wouldn’t stand a chance at moving that much information in any reasonable amount of time. We’re talking about something on the scale of zettabytes (that’s one billion terabytes) of data just for one person. Even if we only teleported a human brain—already the most complex and dense information cluster in the known universe—that would still overwhelm the world’s data networks.

Expediting Trade: The First Use of Teleportation?

Okay, let’s take a step back. Before teleporting people, let’s talk about something a little easier: goods and trade. The global economy is built on moving things—raw materials, finished products, food, electronics, oil, you name it. Transporting goods quickly and cheaply is key to dominating world markets. Enter teleportation.

If teleportation technology ever gets off the ground, it’s almost certain that moving cargo—not people—will be its first major application. Why? Because moving non-living matter is far simpler than transporting a living, breathing organism. There are no concerns about maintaining consciousness or keeping atomic structures in place the way you’d have to with a human body.

Imagine a world where raw materials and goods could be transported instantly across the globe. This would revolutionize trade. Shipping times would go from weeks or months to seconds. Global supply chains would become absurdly efficient, and companies could operate on even leaner margins with zero inventory storage costs. Teleporter logistics would make global trade faster, more reliable, and drastically cheaper.

Now, let’s talk geopolitics. If teleportation tech becomes a reality and is controlled by one nation, it could instantly shift the global balance of power. China, with its stranglehold on global manufacturing and its massive influence in international trade, would be in a prime position to benefit from this kind of technology.

Why Teleportation Could Make China a Unipolar Superpower

China is already a major player in global trade. Thanks to its advanced infrastructure, enormous workforce, and state-controlled economy, the country has positioned itself as the “factory of the world.” Now, imagine a future where China—already a leader in AI, 5G, and quantum computing—perfects teleportation technology for shipping. The result? China could transform itself into a unipolar superpower by controlling the flow of goods around the globe.

With teleportation, China could undercut any competition by offering faster, cheaper transport of goods. Manufacturing could happen in Shenzhen in the morning and be teleported to Berlin by lunch. The world's dependence on China's manufacturing prowess would deepen, and any remaining competitors in global trade could be swept aside by sheer efficiency.

In this scenario, teleportation wouldn’t just be about convenience—it would be about control. Just like the US dominates global finance with the dollar and its network of SWIFT transactions, China could do the same with teleportation, dictating trade flows and supply chains worldwide. In fact, if China could dominate this technology, it could essentially create its own version of the New Silk Road, where the flow of goods is instant and unchallengeable.

The Human Problem: Teleporting People Is Even Harder

Now, let’s circle back to teleporting humans, like in Half-Life 2. If we managed to create a system that could teleport cargo, could we extend that technology to humans? Not so fast.

Teleporting people presents unique challenges. Besides the insane amount of data required to move a human body, there’s the issue of maintaining life during the teleportation process. Humans aren’t just static collections of atoms—we’re living systems, with organs that need to stay intact, neurons that need to keep firing, and consciousness that somehow needs to survive the process. If you thought data loss during a Zoom call was frustrating, imagine losing critical information about a person’s DNA mid-teleport. No amount of “rebooting” would fix that.

And let’s not forget the issue of data traffic. Teleporting goods, while still complex, doesn’t have the same moral and ethical stakes as teleporting humans. The data required to teleport just one person would dwarf the entire global internet traffic today. Current internet infrastructure, including the vast undersea cable network that powers global communications, simply couldn’t handle this kind of data load.

Submarine cables, which form the backbone of the internet, carry immense amounts of data every day. But teleporting humans would require exponentially more bandwidth than we currently have, which means we'd either have to massively overhaul global internet infrastructure or find an entirely new method of data transmission. The fact that submarine cables already struggle with traffic from regular internet use, streaming, and cloud storage makes it clear that adding human teleportation to the mix isn’t feasible with current tech.

The Matrix of Trade: Compliance and Control

In a world where teleportation is primarily used for trade, the new global matrix would demand one thing above all else: compliance. In the same way the current economic system is built on fiat currency, central banking, and global trade flows, a teleportation-based trade system would demand strict oversight and control. Imagine a world where goods are teleported across borders instantly. Governments would need to regulate this new form of transport to prevent illegal trade, piracy, and economic disruption.

Countries that dominate the technology, like China, would be in a position to set the rules. Just like today’s global financial system demands compliance with international trade laws, a teleportation-based system would impose its own set of regulations. If you think navigating customs and import tariffs is a nightmare today, imagine doing it in a world where teleportation systems track every molecule moving across borders in real-time.

Conclusion: Time Moves Forward, Teleportation is a Dream

Here’s the reality: teleportation as we envision it remains a fantasy, at least for now. The challenges of transporting humans—both scientifically and technologically—are enormous. And even if we one day manage to teleport goods, the first applications will likely be in trade, not travel.

But just like the unstoppable movement of a trading terminal’s candlestick chart, time itself only moves forward. Progress is slow, but it’s happening. One day, teleportation may become a reality. And when it does, it will reshape the world—not just in how we travel, but in how we trade, live, and perhaps even how we govern our societies. Whether China becomes the unipolar superpower of a teleportation-based world remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: the dream of instant travel, while still a distant vision, will continue to captivate us.