China's Military-Civil Fusion Strategy

Building a Strong Nation with a Strong Military

Abstract

Since Xi Jinping came to power, new concepts and ideas have come to define China's polity. Of which, Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) is one of the significant concepts added to China's national strategy with the aim to integrate the civilian research and commercial sectors with the military and defence industrial base. The MCF is integral to Xi's vision of the "China Dream" of building a strong country with a strong military by enabling the Military to harness the country's rapid economic growth. Here, the quest lies in building capabilities in ‘dual-use' technology and infrastructure to enhance China's overall economic and military capability and secure China's position vis-à-vis the West. The challenge for China is to match the speed and scope of the rapid technological pace to create Fast or lose the ability to compete. In this context, the paper seeks to understand the civil-military integration in China, under its current form as ‘MCF'. The key elements examined are the objectives, goals, and policies of the MCFstrategy. It also explores the significance as well as the scepticism attached to China's MCF strategy.