當然中共近幾年來,已經嘗試過政策性地引領新興產業,例如2010年爆發的光伏和風力發電熱潮,結果是很快遍地開花,但是隨即產能過剩,陷入低端的惡性競爭。李克強應該知道不能重蹈覆轍,會試圖專注在突破技術瓶頸上,只是具體手段和實際成效目前還不能斷言。中共其實已無路可退:在資本密集型工業產品中,如粗鋼、造船、水泥、發電設備、化學纖維、手機、電腦和電視等等,大陸的產能都已接近或超過世界的50%,要再繼續靠它們驅動經濟成長是不可能的。而中國的勞動年齡人口(Working Age Population)也已過了峰值,如果產業升級失敗,則有“未富先老”的危險,再加上外界有美國虎視眈眈,屆時連國家穩定和完整都可能成為問題。
Before you jump on me, I will say this first. I deeply hope that the Chinese dream will become a reality.
Unfortunately, it will be more complicated. Can a nation with strict internet censorship become the innovation leader? Can a nation with centrally planned economy really compete against market economy? The US of A has Silicon Valley. The brightest and the most ambitious people including entrepreneurs from around the world come to this land. Can Mainland successfully copy the model? The US of A also has “secret weapons” – the can-do spirit and the “garages”. Yes, the garages where Apple and many others were born.
Seriously, I just want to watch 《星光大道》, the show I have followed religiously. Is that too much to ask? Honestly, I am not really optimistic. The Mainland society is a time bomb. On one hand, CCP may appear to be in total control. But a little spark (a random incidence) may burst a flame. This has been true to every authoritarian regime in human history. I am deeply concerned.
Contrary to American propaganda, American society has plenty of censorship. Please read my prior article 《言論自由的假相》. Also contrary to American propaganda, even the false sense of American freedom has very little to do with innovation. For example, prior to WWII, Germany was the authoritarian regime but also far more innovative, at least on a per-capita basis. For another example, in the 1980s, the Japanese were beating the Americans on multiple fronts of high-tech researches. Remember, Japan is as conformist as they come.
The reason is simple: the great majority of the population does not do innovation (Otherwise the US would have been in real trouble since its population is particularly stupid among industrialized nations); it is the top 0.01% in IQ who is responsible for driving 99.99% of the progress. It does not matter how much freedom those stupid majority has; only the smart few can really put their freedom to good use anyway. Their freedom is more often defined by being able to buy the right equipment at the right time. This is the effect of wealth. Once China can put enough investments on enough smart people, there is no reason why it cannot outdo the US in the innovation game.
Don't buy the American propaganda without thinking it through first. Use your own brain and follow the logic.