A New Direction for China's Defense Industry

A New Direction for China’s Defense Industry

Part of a larger RAND Project AIR FORCE study on Chinese military modernization, this study examines the current and future capabilities of China’s defense industry. The goals of this study are to…

  1. Assess recent trends in China’s 25-year-long effort to reform its defense-industrial operations
  2. Analyze the individual strengths and weaknesses of four specific defense-industrial sectors: missile, military aircraft, shipbuilding, and information technology/defense electronics
  3. Explain variations in performance among different defenseindustry sectors, with a focus on differences in institutional arrangements, incentives, and exposure to market forces
  4. Evaluate the prospects for China’s defense industry and its ability to contribute to military modernization.

Over the past 25 years, a prominent and consistent conclusion of Western research on China’s defense-industrial complex has been that it is rife with weaknesses and limitations. This study argues for an alternative approach. From the vantage point of 2005, it is time to shift the focus of research to the gradual improvements in and the future potential of China’s defense-industrial complex, rather than concentrating on its past and persistent weaknesses. Certain Chinese defense-industrial enterprises are designing and producing a wide range of increasingly advanced weapons that, in the short term, will enhance China’s military capabilities in a possible conflict over the xvi A New Direction for China’s Defense Industry future of Taiwan and, in the long term, China’s military position in Asia. More specifically, the following trends underscore the need to focus future research on the gradual improvements in China’s defense-industrial capabilities:

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http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_004595.php

Even with fast development and progress, China is still 15-25 years before it can challenge major powers like US, etc. But it is good to see Pakistans close ally developing its defense industry rapidly.

Re: A New Direction for China's Defense Industry

Good article.... thanks for sharing

Re: A New Direction for China's Defense Industry

tell you the truth you just need brains rather than technology to fight any war. for example vietnam and korean war.

Re: A New Direction for China's Defense Industry

korean war was a straightfoward conventinal war i dont see how it was any different from the rest
in the viet war US military had to fight a brutal guerilla force(VC) with one hand tied behind its back.the reason lowtech was so successful in viet war was because of the restrictions placed on US military by the politicians
so I dont see how we can afford to lag behind in technology and still expect to win wars