The emergence of the PRC as the largest shipbuilding power in the world (1949–2019)

Abstract

Shipbuilding is a typical strategic industry and, due to its high importance, is known as a complex one. The authors, based on foreign primary sources, for the first time in Russian scientific literature explore the path that the shipbuilding industry of the PRC has taken from “emergence from nothing” to the position in the largest shipbuilding country in the world, i.e. five main stages of development. The article describes the key steps taken towards the formation of the industry, both at the level of the creation of ministries and departments, and at the level of the emergence and development of scientific centers. The important government documents related to maintaining and stimulating the development of shipbuilding are studied in sufficient detail. The authors analyze the achievements and weaknesses of the modern Chinese shipbuilding industry. It is shown how China gradually rose to a leading position in the world shipbuilding from stage to stage, and what efforts were made by the state along this path.

Keywords

• prc
• shipbuilding
• shipbuilding industry
• foreign technologies
• ship export
• excess capacity
• mergers and acquisitions
• high added value