Dai Xu, a colonel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and a well-known military analyst, published three books. His books are filled with concerns about China's future, and his thoughts have attracted the public’s attention. He was invited to Shenzhen University, and there he conducted a lecture. The lecture was about how the People's Republic of China is in a similar situation with the Qing Dynasty.
China's GDP is ranked no. 3 in the world, and it seems to outstrip Japan soon. Also many Chinese think if they wait another decade, they can be no.1 among world economies in terms of GDP. Dai xu disagrees with this idea. In 1840, for example, the Qing Dynasty made up 33 percent of World's GDP and this was six times more than Britain. At the peak of the British Empire, it was often said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" and at the time the British Empire made up five percent of the World’s GDP. However, the Qing Dynasty was unable to defeat a foreign invasion, and the dynasty ended up being separated by western countries. Dai Xu said, “It doesn't matter where China is in the list of counties by GDP, but it matters what China produces.”
At the time the Qing Dynasty produced tea leaves, silk, and chinaware. In contrast, Britain made iron warships, and canons. His point is while the Republic of China produces fabric, shoes, toys, and other light industry goods, America is developing high-tech products like artificial satellites, aircraft carriers and fighter planes. The Chinese military needs to shift from a revolutionary army to a high-tech army. He worries, “If America tries to appeal to arms against China. China has no way to defend itself against America.”
