Xi Jinping Orders China's State-Owned Enterprises to Secure Critical Tech

The state is officially back in the driver's seat of China's tech ambitions. President Xi Jinping has instructed the nation's massive central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to become the 'bedrock of national development' by spearheading industrial upgrades and securing critical technologies. The move signals a clear pivot towards state-led control to win the next phase of global competition.

A Directive from the Top

In remarks delivered to a meeting of central SOE leaders in Beijing this week, Xi stressed that these companies must "fully recognise the responsibilities and missions they shoulder and better serve the overall priorities of the party and the state." This effectively tasks the state-controlled giants with achieving technological self-sufficiency in areas like semiconductors, AI, and biotech, shielding China's economy from external pressures.

Why Double Down on State Control?

China's SOEs wield enormous capital and operate with the full backing of the government, allowing them to make long-term, high-risk investments that private firms might shun. As the tech rivalry with the United States intensifies, Beijing appears to view its private sector as vulnerable to foreign sanctions. Empowering SOEs is a strategic bet on creating a more resilient, state-controlled innovation pipeline.

However, this approach isn't without its critics. Opponents argue that a heavy-handed state role could stifle the very dynamism and creativity that fueled China's tech boom, potentially leading to inefficient capital allocation and politically motivated projects rather than true market-driven innovation.