The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is unarguably the most advanced defence research agency in the world known for its pathbreaking technical innovations. And its discoveries are not limited to the military domain only. In fact, the biggest technological breakthrough of contemporary times, the Internet, is DARPA's gift to the humankind. What began as a defence experiment, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), later became the foundation for the Internet.
Another technology that is
now a regular part of today's technology driven lives, the Global Positioning
System or GPS, is also DARPA's discovery. In addition, there are most advanced
defence technologies of the day, i.e., stealth fighters, precision weapons, electromagnetic
cannons and laser guns.
Now China, the aspiring superpower
that is trying to replace the world's only superpower from its global
leadership position, the US, has announced its own version of DARPA, the
Scientific Research Steering Committee (SRSC). According to South China Morning
Post (SCMP)*, the committee was set up earlier this year but it's existence was
publicly announced this week only with a documentary aired on China's state
broadcaster CCTV.
'Carrying Reform Through to
the End', a 10-part documentary series was focused on SRSC in its Sunday and
Monday episodes. The committee will report to China's Central Military
Commission (CMC) which is headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The
documentary claimed that SRSC was similar to DARPA and "would make greater
efforts to promote scientific technology in the Chinese army to win the
competitive advantage.”
Xi Jinping, who was declared only
the second Core Leader of China last year, decades after the title was given to
Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China, is on a
spree to modernize the Chinese defence establishment including the People's
Liberation Army (PLA). The official PLA Daily earlier this month reported that
China is going to downsize its military strength from 2.3 million to below one
million and attributed the reason behind this to change in China's strategic
goals. PLA is presently the largest military force in the world.
According to Chinese media
reports, China is going to shift its strategic focus from ground battles to
electronic warfare and communication and the PLA restructuring, while cutting
down army troops, will focus on increasing troops and resources for PLA's air
force, navy, strategic support force and rocket force, in a clear departure
from its 'homeland defence approach to acquiring overseas mission capabilities
to defend the Chinese interests anywhere in the world.'
In March this year, China
inducted J-20, its first stealth fighter jet, into active service. The same
month, it announced to develop a breakthrough, an electric propulsion
technology, that it claimed would make its submarines quieter than US
submarines. In April, the country launched its first home-built aircraft carrier
in open waters. In June, it launched its home-built guided missile destroyer
that it claimed was most advanced in Asia and the world second most powerful.
©SantoshChaubey
