SCMP: China is not a world leader in science and technology
Leadership has been hoodwinked by overblown claims of nation’s capabilities and achievements, editor-in-chief of state-run industry journal says
Original Article: China must stop fooling itself it is a world leader in science and technology, magazine editor says
Cover Photo from SCMP
Liu Yadong, editor-in-chief of Science and Technology Daily. Photo from SCMP.
“The large gap in science and technology between China and developed countries in the West, including the US, should be common knowledge, and not a problem.” Liu said.
“But it became problematic when the people who hype [China’s achievements] … fooled the leadership, the public and even themselves.”
“We think it’s necessary for the public to know more, and particularly about the areas where China is not amazing, and is enslaved to others,” Liu said.
I got a bad feeling for him… hope he would be okay, after seemingly going clearly against the “national interests” by saying something like that…
While it was perhaps unsurprising to see Liu’s speech receive widespread support online, it also garnered praise from a less expected source, the state-run, and generally jingoistic, tabloid Global Times.
In an opinion piece published on Sunday, the newspaper said that Liu’s comments reflected public opinion and were timely given the trade dispute with the US.
“The overwhelming support for Liu shows that there is a collective consciousness within Chinese society that hopes to see more self-reflection internally and more humility externally,” it said.
It did, however, argue that it was important for China and its people to remain optimistic, and not allow other nations to contain it.
The interesting thing to note is how the “humble” response to the speech by Global Times, as well as acknowledgment that the Chinese population is perhaps feeling a little “exhausted” and “disillusioned” by the ongoing war of words between their country and USA.
Liu’s comments followed the publication of a series of articles by Science and Technology Daily that identified 29 key technologies in which China was lagging behind other countries. One of them cited the problems caused by the US government’s ban on American companies selling parts and software to Chinese telecom and mobile phone maker ZTE in the wake of its export control violations
Original Article: China must stop fooling itself it is a world leader in science and technology, magazine editor says