China's Secret Scientific Megaprojects 142
An anonymous reader writes "The Diplomat reports on the 2006 National Medium to Long-term Plan (MLP) for the Development of Science and Technology, China's most ambitious national science and technology plan to date. The MLP consists of sixteen megaprojects — both civilian and military — that serve as 'S&T vanguard programs designed to transform China's science & technology capabilities in areas such as electronics, semiconductors, [and] telecommunications.' Thirteen of the megaprojects are listed in the MLP, while three are classified for national security reasons. The three classified megaprojects are likely the military components of the Shenguang Laser Project (used for thermonuclear weapons), the Beidou 2 Satellite Navigation System, and the Hypersonic Vehicle Technology Project."
Re:Shenguang Laser Project (Score:5, Informative)
The article refers to it as Shenguang Laser Project for Inertial Confinement Fusion, which may give a clue about what it's primarily for. It's apparently the Chinese equivalent of USA's National Ignition Facility.
Re:test for free enterprise (Score:5, Informative)
China is the second largest economy in the world and is the first "command economy" to actually offer competition in innovation to the US.
The first? Better check out which country put the first satellite into orbit and the first man into space, and which country had the first ballistic missiles and jet aircraft.
Re:test for free enterprise (Score:4, Informative)
The Soviets offered some real competition back in the day.
The list (Score:5, Informative)
The 13 published Megaprojects.
Core electronic components, high-end general use chips and basic software products
Large-scale integrated circuit manufacturing equipment and techniques
New generation broadband wireless mobile communication networks
Advanced numeric-controlled machinery and basic manufacturing technology
Large-scale oil and gas exploration
Large advanced nuclear reactors
Water pollution control and treatment
Breeding new varieties of genetically modified organisms
Pharmaceutical innovation and development
Control and treatment of AIDS, hepatitis, and other major diseases
Large aircraft
High-definition earth observation system
Manned spaceflight and lunar probe programs