The group, formerly called the “National Technology and Education leadership Group” under China’s cabinet-like State Council, has been renamed without the mention of education to reflect a focus on technology, according to a circular published on the central government’s website on Aug. 8.
The circular said the change was due to “relevant arrangements” as required by work, without elaborating. Premier Li Keqiang, who had chaired the original group since 2013, will lead the renamed body with vice premier Liu He as deputy.
It is unusual for Chinese leader Xi Jinping not to head this group, as he has been appointed top official in charge of several “leadership groups” important to the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda, such as a group for military reform, finance, and “deepened reform.” Overseas Chinese media suggest this may be a sign that there are frictions within the Party that caused Xi to lose control.
Under the plan, Beijing wants Chinese suppliers to capture 70 percent of market share by 2025 for “basic core components and important basic materials” in strategic industries.
Such a large-scale plan to dominate global supply chains has alarmed the U.S. administration, which targeted Made in China 2025 as evidence that Beijing has systematically stolen intellectual property (IP) for its own interests by guiding Chinese firms to acquire American tech firms; forcing U.S. businesses to transfer technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market; and other schemes. The U.S. trade tariffs are partly a punitive measure against Beijing’s IP theft.
Other members of the revamped leadership group include top officials from more than a dozen ministries and key central government bodies, including central bank head Yi Gang and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission director Xiao Yaqing.
It was unclear how the member composition was different because the State Council did not publish the notice that announced the former group’s members.
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