China Vows to Advance Tech Self-Reliance Amid US Trade War Pressure
Beijing accelerates its drive for technological independence as Washington intensifies restrictions on Chinese innovation
China, PUREWILAYAH.COM — China has pledged to intensify its push for technological self-reliance, unveiling a stronger plan to shield its scientific and industrial future from Washington’s escalating trade and tech war.
The announcement came in a Communist Party communique on Thursday after approval of the draft for the nation’s next Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030).
The document highlights “substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength” as one of China’s top national goals for the coming decade.
Deepening Confrontation with Washington
The move comes as the United States continues tightening restrictions on China’s access to key technologies — particularly semiconductors and artificial intelligence systems — while maintaining sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods.
In January, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed a $500 billion federal initiative to secure American dominance in AI and related technologies, a step Beijing sees as part of Washington’s wider campaign to contain China’s rise.
“This is not competition — it’s economic coercion under another name,”
one Chinese official commented, reflecting Beijing’s growing frustration with what it calls U.S. technological bullying.
Xi Jinping: Building an Independent Future
President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need for “superiority in AI” and self-sufficiency in semiconductors, software, and digital infrastructure.
Beijing’s modernization plan places innovation at the heart of China’s defense and development strategy, aiming to end reliance on Western technologies and achieve resilience against future sanctions or trade blockades.
“China will continue its path of self-confidence and self-reliance,”
the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, framing this drive as part of a broader vision for “an equal and orderly multipolar world.”
Countering U.S. Pressure
In response to American restrictions, China has imposed export controls on rare-earth metals critical to U.S. high-tech manufacturing — a strategic countermeasure that underscores Beijing’s leverage in the global supply chain.
Trump, who recently referred to the confrontation as a “trade war,” is expected to meet Xi Jinping at next week’s APEC Summit in South Korea in what he described as an attempt to reach a “fair” deal.
Yet analysts in Beijing say Washington’s definition of “fairness” continues to mean unilateral control and dependence, while China’s path forward is technological sovereignty — a cornerstone of the global resistance to U.S. domination. (PW)