Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation

The Chinese leadership has identified the aviation industry as a strategic priority. This policy brief assesses progress in China’s aviation industry, with a focus on 2009–2010. A review of major developments in China’s civilian and military aircraft programs reveals a trend in China’s approach to advancing its aviation industry: dependence on foreign partnerships alongside investment in indigenous research and development. It remains to be seen if this hybrid techno-globalist and techno-nationalist approach will help or hinder China as it works to implement civil–military integration (CMI) in its aviation industry.