Rebecca Choong Wilkins, a Bloomberg News correspondent with expertise in Asian government and politics, dives into China's ambitious 'Made in China 2025' initiative. She discusses how China is thriving in key technologies like solar power and electric vehicles, despite U.S. containment efforts. The conversation shifts to the evolving U.S.-China trade dynamics and military considerations, exploring how upcoming presidential elections could reshape strategies. Wilkins also presents a fresh 'suction' strategy for leveraging Chinese innovation to boost U.S. competitiveness.
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Quick takeaways
China continues to advance significantly in key tech sectors like renewable energy and biotechnology, despite US containment efforts.
Experts suggest the US should shift from sanctions to collaboration, engaging with China's innovations to boost its own technological capabilities.
Deep dives
China's Technological Aspirations
China's 'Made in China 2025' plan, established in 2015, aimed to position the nation as a leader in key technological sectors while reducing reliance on foreign technologies. This initiative emphasizes self-sufficiency and the cultivation of a competitive edge in industries such as aerospace, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Current assessments indicate that China has made significant advancements, achieving global leadership in five of the thirteen key technologies tracked, including solar panels and electric vehicles. This success can be attributed to targeted governmental support that channels resources efficiently into prioritized sectors.
The US Response to China's Rise
In response to China's technological advancements, the United States has implemented a combination of tariffs, export controls, and sanctions aimed at curtailing China's access to sensitive technologies like advanced semiconductors. These efforts have included building a coalition of allies to restrict China's access to critical manufacturing technologies, thereby reinforcing US national security interests. Despite these measures, trade dynamics suggest that the effectiveness of US strategies may be limited, as international markets continue to embrace Chinese technologies. The ongoing race for technological supremacy raises questions about the efficacy and sustainability of the US approach.
Future Strategies for Competitive Edge
To effectively counter China's growing influence, experts propose a shift in strategy from sanctions to a collaborative approach that leverages China's innovations for US advancement. This concept, referred to as 'suction' rather than sanctions, suggests the US engage with Chinese talent and technological developments to enhance its own industrial capabilities. By integrating and building upon China's technological progress, the US could foster innovation and competitiveness in key sectors like computing and biotechnology. Such a strategy not only enhances US technological leadership but also could stabilize international relations amid growing tensions.
China is making steady progress in its quest to dominate key industries of the future, despite years of US tariffs, export controls and sanctions.
Check out this special episode of Bloomberg's Big Take Asia podcast, as hosts K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg News correspondent Rebecca Choong Wilkins about how the US is struggling to curb Beijing’s technological advances, and whether the upcoming presidential election could change the dynamic.
Then come back on Thursday, as Rebecca joins the next episode of Odd Lots -- along with Bloomberg economic analyst Gerard DiPippo -- to take a further look at the ongoing tech rivalry between the US and China.