China’s Communist Party has announced a focus on speeding up self-reliance in science and technology as part of its upcoming five-year development plan, signaling a push for rapid economic growth and stronger national security.

The announcement, made on state media Thursday, described the country as facing “profound and complex” changes and rising uncertainty. The plan emphasizes expanding domestic demand, improving people’s livelihoods, and consolidating security, though it did not specify measures to reduce China’s dependence on exports.

The communique did not directly mention the US-China trade war, but it comes amid escalating tensions over semiconductors and rare earths, which are critical to defense and tech industries.

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Context Ahead of APEC Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the APEC summit in South Korea next week. Analysts expect rare earths to be a key leverage point in trade discussions.

Recent tensions include:

• Beijing’s new restrictions on rare earths exports.
• Trump’s threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.
• China’s near-monopoly on rare earth production, vital to defense and semiconductor sectors.

Analysts warn that breaking China’s dominance in rare earths could take a decade or more, due to high capital costs, technical gaps, and environmental risks.

The five-year plan reflects China’s determination to bolster self-sufficiency in technology, strengthen economic resilience, and maintain strategic advantages amid ongoing global trade pressures.