Reference News Network, December 4 report: The UK's "Nature" weekly website published an article titled "Why the World Must Acknowledge China's Technological Leadership" on November 26. The author is Professor Kerry Brown from King's College London in the UK. The following is a compilation of the article:

In 2017, a retired British security official said that if there was one unchanging aspect of the UK's China policy, it was always lagging behind by five to ten years.

This view still resonates in 2025. Today, China has become an important player in the field of research and development, but the outside world has largely yet to realize this fact.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China announced that China will take promoting high-quality development as its theme and reform and innovation as its fundamental driving force, pointing out that this will require a significant improvement in the level of self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Policymakers should take this statement seriously for three reasons.

First, China has clear motivations. Soon after the meeting between Chinese and US leaders, the two presidents agreed to halt the tariff war and resolve the trade conflict. However, China is aware that its technological dependence on countries such as the United States is a weakness, and it needs to achieve technological self-reliance.

Second, the Chinese government's commitment to achieving its goals is not just empty rhetoric, but real investment. From 2007 to 2023, China's R&D investment increased nearly six times, with the amount now exceeding the EU and approaching that of the United States. The latest plan shows that this trend will continue.

Third, China has human capital. In 2020, China graduated 3.6 million university students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), compared to 2.6 million in India and 820,000 in the United States. In 2022, about 50,000 people in China obtained STEM doctorates, while the figure was 34,000 in the United States.

Over the past half-century, China's development has mainly relied on the migration of 250 million laborers from rural areas to cities, making China the "world factory." However, the future progress of China will be driven by young researchers.

A strong example is the DeepSeek AI model released unexpectedly by DeepSeek Company in January this year. The company proved that China can develop its own artificial intelligence system, which is a key turning point with important symbolic significance.

Chinese leaders acknowledge that their country still has a long way to go. But to assert that China cannot achieve the goal of becoming a technological power before 2035 is too hasty. For this reason, it is very important for governments around the world to engage effectively with China.

Policymakers need to move beyond the security-centered mindset they have had since the 2010s. We are not facing a new Cold War. Unlike the Soviet Union, China is integrated into global supply chains, capital flows, and international trade, and it cannot be decoupled from the rest of the world. We need to carry out multi-dimensional, practical diplomacy, prioritizing the points of interest between China and other countries.

For example, China acknowledges the scientific conclusions of global warming. Although challenges remain, China has reduced its reliance on fossil fuels at the national level and has extensively promoted renewable energy technologies.

China recognizes the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence. In 2023, at the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit held in Bletchley Park, UK, China, the European Union, the United States, and 20 other countries committed to jointly addressing the risks of artificial intelligence.

Additionally, China is facing the issue of an aging population, with chronic diseases and mental health problems becoming increasingly prominent, providing fertile ground for cooperation in the fields of health and social care.

However, there are still areas of disagreement. The obsession of some Western policymakers with China's intellectual property infringement issues needs to be re-examined: cases of reverse infringement may increase. The main challenge for governments will be how to establish frameworks and agreements to ensure fair access to Chinese technology.

Politics will be a factor. China's technological and knowledge output will be closely linked to its goal of becoming a strong country. But this does not mean that China seeks to dominate, control, or confront other countries around the world.

The world needs to better understand China and its culture, language, and politics. China is a country at the forefront of the technological revolution. China deserves more in-depth study rather than reflexive judgment. (Translated by Hu Wei)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7579968864331514406/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author themselves.