Be wary of defence contractors, Chinese study warns, pointing to US system
A new study from China has warned Beijing of the danger of defence contractors having too much influence over defence policy, pointing to the profit-driven expansion of the US military-industrial complex as a salutary example. In the study published on Monday, researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s National Institute of Strategic Studies said Washington’s “iron triangle” – linking the…
China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University has issued a study warning the Chinese government about the dangers of defense contractors wielding excessive influence over defense policy. The researchers, led by Gu Jianyi, compared the US military-industrial complex's structure—a "triangular alliance" involving the Department of Defense, private contractors, and congressional committees—to a self-perpetuating cycle where profits, expanded budgets, and political capital drive further military expansion.
This system, according to the study, creates a cycle of expanding armaments for profit, regardless of external threats, overriding national security and public interest.
The study's authors urged China to establish a clear division of responsibilities between the government, military, and defense contractors, setting up a framework with transparent roles, checks, and balances. However, they noted that China's political structure, governed by the Communist Party, presents different risks. The primary concern in China is not external influence from private capital, but internal factors like institutional decay within the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
To mitigate these risks, Song Zhongping, a mainland military analyst, advocated for preventing the formation of "small circles" or entrenched cliques within the PLA. He stressed the importance of robust legal frameworks and stringent internal supervision to stop such cliques from gaining power. Beijing has already enacted an extensive anti-corruption campaign within the PLA in recent years, dismantling procurement networks and removing high-ranking officials, including generals and defense ministers, who were involved in procurement fraud leading to the use of substandard materials.
The researchers emphasized the need for continuous innovation and self-reliant supply chains to break technological bottlenecks. They also suggested that technology should flow freely between the military and civilian sectors to foster a harmonious relationship between defense and economic development. This balanced approach would steer away from the flawed US model of relying on conflict, expansion, and arms races to stimulate industrial growth.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
