战略研究基金会-促进“软连接”：中国的标准制定改革和国际雄心（英）-2021.9-19页_2mb

Summary of "Promoting 'soft connectivity': China's standards-setting reforms and international ambitions"

Core Content

This document explores China's strategic reforms in its national standards system and its broader international ambitions in standards-setting, emphasizing the concept of "soft connectivity" as a key component of its global influence strategy. It analyzes the evolution of China's approach to standards, the roles of key government institutions, and the impact of its participation in international standards organizations. The text also highlights the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a vehicle for promoting Chinese standards abroad, while noting the limitations of China's current influence in the global standards landscape.

Main Views

1. China's National Standards System Overhaul

• Government-led and business-oriented: The Chinese standards system is characterized by strong governmental involvement, with the Standardisation Administration of China (SAC) playing a central role.
• Three-tier industrial scale-up: China's strategy emphasizes the development of production, technology, and standards as essential for industrial growth.
• Mandatory and recommended standards: The new system includes mandatory national standards (GB standards) for critical areas like pharmaceuticals, food safety, and environmental protection, alongside recommended standards for other sectors.
• Significant reform in 2015: The "Reform plan for furthering standardisation work" initiated a three-phase transformation, aiming to increase international competitiveness and visibility.

2. China's International Ambitions in Standards

• Early ambitions: China has long sought to increase its influence in international standards organizations, with the 1989 standardisation law and its 2019 revision reinforcing this goal.
• Leadership roles: China has gained leadership positions in organizations like ISO, IEC, and ITU, with officials such as Zhang Xiaogang, Shu Yinbiao, and Zhao Houlin holding key roles.
• Growth in participation: China's presence in international technical committees has increased significantly, particularly in ISO and IEC, though it still lags behind in secretariat positions and committee chair roles.
• Strategic focus on emerging technologies: The emphasis is on areas like data governance, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies, where China has a competitive edge.

3. Limited Results Despite Ambitions

• Low share of international standards: China accounts for only 1.8% of global standards, a significant increase from 0.7% in the mid-2010s, but still far behind the US, UK, Germany, France, and Japan (90–95%).
• Concerns about influence: Western countries express concerns over China's potential to dominate standards-setting through non-consensus proposals or political influence.
• Contradictions with WTO commitments: China's standards-setting process is not fully aligned with WTO rules, which could lead to trade disputes and reduced international adoption.

Key Information

• China Standards 2035: A research program, not a formal strategy, aimed at guiding the development of standards in emerging technologies.
• Huawei's role: As a leading example of a Chinese company, Huawei is a major player in international standards, particularly in 5G, with significant influence in ITU and 3GPP.
• BRI and Digital Silk Road: These initiatives are used to promote Chinese standards to developing countries, aiming to create "hard mechanisms" of cooperation through "soft connectivity."
• Participation in ISO and IEC: China's participation in technical committees has grown rapidly, but its influence in setting and leading standards remains limited compared to traditional powers.
• Strategic focus: China is focusing on areas where it has a technological and market advantage, such as digital technologies, to enhance its global standing.

Conclusion

While China has made notable strides in reforming its national standards system and increasing its international presence, it still faces challenges in becoming a dominant force in global standards-setting. The document underscores the importance of distinguishing between China's stated ambitions and its actual influence, highlighting the need for continued engagement and alignment with international norms to ensure effective and legitimate standards-setting.