Strategic Motivation of China’s Space Technology Rise: From Dependence to Independence under Xi Jinping

Jin-Yong Kim^*

College of Creative Convergence Studies, Kyungnam University, Republic of Korea

Correspondence to: ^*Email: conan@korea.ac.kr

Abstract

This study investigates the rapid advancement of China’s space technology during the Xi Jinping era, emphasizing the factors that transformed China from a latecomer to a leading space power. Since Xi Jinping took office in 2013, China has pursued an ambitious commercialization strategy for space technology, aligning it with broader national objectives, such as the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” This study highlights China’s major achievements in lunar exploration, Martian missions, and space station construction, and its strategic intent to reshape the existing international order. Key factors behind China’s progress include the prioritization of space as the “commanding height of international strategic competition” and the promotion of private sector involvement in the space industry. Additionally, this study emphasizes China’s focus on technological self-reliance in response to United States restrictions. By analyzing these factors, this study illustrates how China has rapidly emerged as a global leader in space technology, reshaping the dynamics of international space competition.

Keywords:

China’s space technology, U.S.-China Space Competition, Technological self-reliance, Space technology commercialization

AI Acknowledgment

Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were not used in any way to prepare, write, or complete essential authoring tasks in this manuscript.

Conflicting Interests

I declare that I have no conflicts of interest in this research.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2024S1A5A2A01020793).

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