China overtakes U.S. as high-tech supplier

International Herald Tribune ^ | DECEMBER 11, 2005 | David Lague

[nickcarraway]

BEIJING: After almost a decade of explosive growth in its electronics sector, China has overtaken the United States as the world's biggest supplier of information technology goods, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Data in the report, to be published on Monday, show that China's exports of information and communication technology - including laptop computers, mobile phones and digital cameras - increased by more than 46 percent to $180 billion in 2004 from a year earlier, easily outstripping for the first time U.S. exports of $149 billion, which grew 12 percent from 2003.

The figures compiled by the OECD, based in Paris, also reveal that China has come close to matching the United States in the overall value of its trade in information and communications technology products. The value of China's combined exports and imports of such goods soared to $329 billion in 2004 from $35 billion in 1996. Over the same period, the value of U.S. information technology trade expanded at a slower rate, to $375 billion from $230 billion.

To some industry experts, the report is more evidence that China has made progress in its long-term plan to upgrade the capacity of its manufacturing as it strives to become a major economic power.

"It confirms that the Chinese economy is really moving up the value chain from simple manufactured goods like textiles, shoes and plastics to very sophisticated electronics," said Arthur Kobler, a business consultant in Hong Kong and former president of AT&T in China.

The most spectacular demonstration of China's ambition to become a consumer electronics heavyweight came in May this year when Lenovo, the Chinese computer maker, paid $1.75 billion to buy IBM's personal computer unit.

Also, China's efforts to impose its own technology standards across a range of consumer

[nickcarraway]

For military analysts like Fisher, the combination of domestic innovation and the spill-over effect from foreign research and development means that China is now poised to make rapid strides in defense technology. "China is quickly becoming an innovator and, as we know, it has the money to turn those ideas into weapons," he said.

[Flavius]

dandy

[DoughtyOne]

The inevitable results of our insanity will soon be upon our children and grandchildren. We should be ashamed of what we have facilitated.

[stephenjohnbanker]

A cold foreboding of things to come.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Yep, and our wealthy western states are turning into Mexico

[fallujah-nuker]

You may find this one interesting.

[DoughtyOne]

Technology R&D is the future. We have been able to project our power largely due to our R&D advantage. Now China is poised to be the innovator of record. It will happen.

We have opened our nation to all comers. All the chickens are coming home to roost.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Yeah, press 1 for english.

[DoughtyOne]

Press 9 for jihad...

[stephenjohnbanker]

Both are quite likely, sad to say.

[DoughtyOne]

True...

[Crazieman]

Am I going to live to see 35?

[BJungNan]

Yep, and our wealthy western states are turning into Mexico

Yep, that is correct. Walked into a store the other day and there was only a couple of employees that could speak English. All store signs or price signs were in Spanish.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Absolutely incredible!

[TheCrusader]

I've been in a running debate with some FReepers who think I'm a 'socialist' because I'm against trading with China. It was just a matter of time before China began taking the production/technology lead away from us. Why on earth our President ever granted China 'most favored nation' trade status and allowing an appalling trade deficit with them mystifies me, this Communist giant is a patient, crafty and mortal enemy. It appears we are now getting what we bargained for.

[nickcarraway]

I have a lot of misgivings about that. File it under, "selling them the rope to hang us with."

[Prime Choice]

Yep...and we keep getting smoke blown up our collective butts that it's somehow a GOOD thing that China is getting all the high cards in trade, technology and every other facet upon which the U.S. relies.

We are selling them the rope by which they will ultimately hang us.

[Prime Choice]

I've been in a running debate with some FReepers who think I'm a 'socialist' because I'm against trading with China.

After some of the positively Leftist arguments I've been getting from some of those same people, I'm wondering if we don't have more than a few DUmmie retreads pulling a load of Orwellian doublespeak on FR.

[Brian Allen]

<< Yeah, press 1 for english. >>

Gee, you're spoiled.

Bank of America makes me wait for 17!

[Just kidding - but you know what I mean]

Merry Christmas!

Blessings - Brian