Ep 6. Made in China

Great Decisions in Foreign Policy season 47 episode 6 explores the topic of Made in China. China has been a global manufacturing hub for decades, and now it is investing heavily in technological innovation. The episode delves into how China's manufacturing prowess is not just about low wages and low-cost commodities, and how its dependence on foreign technology has given way to a domestic sector that is racing to compete on the world stage through software and innovation.

The episode begins by examining the Chinese government's efforts to forge a self-sufficient tech industry, which it calls Made in China 2025. The program aims to spur economic growth and boost China's global reputation by producing and exporting high-tech products. The government is investing heavily in emerging fields such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing to achieve this objective.

The show features interviews with industry experts and policymakers who analyse China's tech industry and examine how it is transforming global markets. They discuss the challenges that the United States and other countries face in working with China on technology while balancing national security concerns. The discussion highlights how China's state-led capitalist model is different from the market-driven approach of most Western democracies.

The episode also explores China's relationship with the rest of the world by examining the country's export markets. China is the world's largest trading nation, and its export-oriented model has historically been centered on low-cost manufacturing. The show analyzes how China's export market is evolving under Made in China 2025 and how it could reshape global trade dynamics.

The episode also investigates the strategy that China is using to build influence through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a colossal infrastructure plan that spans from Southeast Asia to Africa. The panel examines how this vast program of road, rail, and port building is expanding China's economic and diplomatic reach, and whether the BRI drives development, or merely facilitates China's economic and political objectives.

The show concludes by weighing up the implications of China's technological ambitions on the world stage and what the United States and other Western nations can do to maintain global competitiveness. It analyses the tensions between the United States and China over trade and intellectual property protection and what political strategies countries can implement to resolve these tensions.

Great Decisions in Foreign Policy season 47 episode 6 offers viewers an in-depth look at the historic shift occurring in the global economy and the balance of power dynamics that are resulting from China's pursuit of technological supremacy. The show presents insights into the implications of China's ambitious moves to reach its Made in China 2025 goals, and it does so in a way that creates important conversations about diplomacy and the global economy.