China’s military recruits private experts to work on defence technology projects
Partnerships with non-state firms essential to making ‘dream of a strong military come true’, senior generals say
Two of China’s top military leaders have called for greater cooperation between the People’s Liberation Army and the private sector on the development of defence technologies, military media reported on Friday, just days after announcing the PLA’s rocket force had recruited civilian experts for the first time in its history.
General Xu Qiliang and General Zhang Youxia, the two vice-chairmen of the PLA’s all-powerful Central Military Commission, highlighted the importance of military-civilian collaboration during their visit to a high-profile military equipment exhibition in Beijing on Thursday.
Such partnerships were essential “to provide strong propulsion and strategic support to make the dream of a strong military come true”, military media quoted the two as saying.
The exhibition showcased a host of collaboration projects and research in the fields of advanced materials, new energy, automation and information technology.
In recent years, China’s private firms have increasingly become involved in the development of military technology – officially referred to as “military-civilian integration” – as the PLA seeks to accelerate the modernisation of its weapons systems and related equipment.