Publication

This paper provides a historical perspective on the Chinese defense industrial complex (CDIC) between 1949 and 2003. The author argues that the CDIC can be characterized as a remarkable accomplishment, a worst-case example of Chinese state-owned enterprises and a strategic failure all at once. The paper concludes that the Chinese have a wary attitude toward globalization, and that it is premature to think of the CDIC as a player in a global defense industry context.