'Made in China 2025' will evolve under US pressure

Subject

China's industrial policy.

Significance

At the heart of the current US-China confrontation over trade and investment is China's ambition to challenge US technological and industrial superiority. This ambition is now often treated as synonymous with its best-known element, the 'Made in China 2025' initiative (MIC 2025) -- a grand plan that sets ambitious targets for expanding high-end manufacturing.

Impacts

• An uneasy relationship between China and the West regarding technology might delay release of technical standards for emerging technologies.
• China will invest heavily in its basic scientific research capabilities, but will not match the United States any time soon.
• It may become more difficult to obtain critical information on high-tech sectors and policies if government decides to downplay them.