3 ms·

> The US alone spends about $500 billion. China, which was at roughly $100 billion a decade ago, has now cleared $400 billion. Taking into account the costs of

> The US alone spends about $500 billion. China, which was at roughly $100 billion a decade ago, has now cleared $400 billion. Taking into account the costs of doing science in the two countries, China's investment has probably surpassed the US based on purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustment. A root cause of the Century of Humiliation was China's then technological inferiority to Western powers and Japan, resulting in losses despite its massive manpower advantage (e.g., ~200,000 vs ~20,000 troops in the First Opium War). It is unsurprising that they took to heart a painful and vivid lesson on the importance of technological and scientific development. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_of_humiliation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_of_humiliation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War

adrianN 8y ago
China is also setting itself up as the leader in biotechnology. All kinds of research related to genetic engineering is not possible or significantly harder in the west due to ethical concerns.
acqq 8y ago
When the "Century of humiliation" and the Opium Wars are mentioned, reading about them also gives a unique chance to easily understand the real meaning of the still popular term "Free Trade," even then: https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/opium-war-1839-1842 https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/opium-war-1839-1842 "The war ended on 17 August 1842, with the Treaty of Nanking enabling the British to 'carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please'. The treaty committed the Chinese to free trade, including the trade in opium." The British practically fought the war to be free to be drug dealers to the whole country, asserting they have the right to "free trade." If you are studying economy or history, you already knew that, otherwise you probably haven't, unless you are Chinese: if I understand correctly, such details are, IMHO rightly, the necessary part of the Chinese curriculum. Free trade is of course even now only used as a term for "others" to accept what "we" want to do. In other direction, "we" can simply care about the "national security": https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/12/trump-issues-order-prohibiting-broadcoms-bid-to-take-over-qualcomm.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/12/trump-issues-order-prohibiti... The Newspeak principles weren't invented by Orwell. One country's free trade is another country's national security.
megaman22 8y ago
Interestingly enough, Qing China actually had purchased more advanced military equipment than Japan at the start of the Sino-Japanese War. On paper, at least, the Beiyang fleet at the Battle of the Yalu River was the superior force - unfortunately for them, so crippled by corruption and lack of training that those advantages were squandered. Krupp and Armstrong made boat-loads of money selling top-of-the-line hardware to China during this whole self-strengthening movement.

adrianN 8y ago

China is also setting itself up as the leader in biotechnology. All kinds of research related to genetic engineering is not possible or significantly harder in the west due to ethical concerns.

acqq 8y ago

When the "Century of humiliation" and the Opium Wars are mentioned, reading about them also gives a unique chance to easily understand the real meaning of the still popular term "Free Trade," even then: https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/opium-war-1839-1842 https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/opium-war-1839-1842 "The war ended on 17 August 1842, with the Treaty of Nanking enabling the British to 'carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please'. The treaty committed the Chinese to free trade, including the trade in opium." The British practically fought the war to be free to be drug dealers to the whole country, asserting they have the right to "free trade." If you are studying economy or history, you already knew that, otherwise you probably haven't, unless you are Chinese: if I understand correctly, such details are, IMHO rightly, the necessary part of the Chinese curriculum. Free trade is of course even now only used as a term for "others" to accept what "we" want to do. In other direction, "we" can simply care about the "national security": https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/12/trump-issues-order-prohibiting-broadcoms-bid-to-take-over-qualcomm.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/12/trump-issues-order-prohibiti... The Newspeak principles weren't invented by Orwell. One country's free trade is another country's national security.

megaman22 8y ago

Interestingly enough, Qing China actually had purchased more advanced military equipment than Japan at the start of the Sino-Japanese War. On paper, at least, the Beiyang fleet at the Battle of the Yalu River was the superior force - unfortunately for them, so crippled by corruption and lack of training that those advantages were squandered. Krupp and Armstrong made boat-loads of money selling top-of-the-line hardware to China during this whole self-strengthening movement.