(EST Pub Date) Science and Technology in Communist CHINA Through 1970

constitute important research and development
strength. Some contributions to research needs of
the State also are made by the universities and
colleges. A fairly large volume of work is done
under the research and development label by pro-
vincial and lower political bodies and local produc-
tion units, but the scientific and engineering level
is usually low. The organization for research and
development is shown in figure 1.
62. The role of the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) is dominant. Reliable Party members are
present in each unit, with top authority resting with
a Party man, who, in many cases, is not the formal
head of the unit. The only organ of the Central
Committee of the CCP known to have regular con-
tinuing duties relating to science and technology
is the Science Section of the Propaganda Depart-
ment. This section works through the Chinese
Scientific and Technical Association as its control
organ and has the responsibility for the mass con-
trol of scientists and engineers. Presumably, there
is close coordination within the Party of military
and scientific affairs. The Chairman of the State
Scientific and Technological Commission is an army
marshal who is concurrently Vice-Chairman of the
Party’s Military Affairs Committee.
63. The State Scientific and Technological Com-
mission is the government’s top planning, control,
and supervisory body in the scientific and techno-
logical field. Its work bears on all organizations
having duties of a scientific and technical nature.
Since its formation in November 1958 by amalga-
mating the Scientific Planning Commission and
the State Technological Commission, it apparently
has had broad responsibilities for determining the
direction that China should go in science and tech-
nology and for seeing that the resulting programs
are carried out. Responsibilities known for the
Scientific Planning Commission follow. They are
assumed to apply to the new organization as well.
i. Determination of the kind and level of technology
to be fostered, both for the short- and long-range terms.
ii. Incorporation of the yearly and long-range scien-
tific and technical plans into the overall economic plans
by working in conjunction with the State Economic
Commission and the State Planning Commission.
Implementation of the scientific and technical
plans, especially key projects.
iv. Coordination of work done by the various organs
having responsibility for research and development.
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v. Administration of scientific and technical person-
nel. (A new State Council Bureau for Scientific and
Technological Personnel was set up in ]une 1964. It
presumably relieved the Commission of detailed opera-
tional duties in this field.)
vi. Management of research and development funds.
vii. Operation of the scientific and technical docu-
mentation and information services.
viii. Provision of research equipment and materials.
(A Ministry for the Allocation of Materials was estab-
lished in October .1964 and may have taken over re-
sponsibility for the details of this operation.)
I
ix. Establishment and management of weights and
measures and industrial standards.
x. Conduct of international relations in science and
technology.
64. Within the Commis_sion’s organization are
possibly 40 or more divisions which handle the
aifairs of particular substantive fields of science
and engineering and perform or manage support-
ing services. To carry out its work, the Com-
mission has a number of advisory committees of
one or two dozen experts each. They meet as
needed to provide the expertise needed for the
conduct of the Commission’s business. Each sub-
stantive division of the Commission is believed
to have such a committee of experts. The degree
of supervision exercised by the Commission varies
from one of very general policy direction to one
of close detailed supervision for some key projects.
The Commission is believed to have a Defense
Technology Division for incorporating military
problems into the national planning and program-
ming of research and development.
65. The Academy of Sciences is China’s leading
research and development institution. Most of
China’s leading scientists are on the rolls of its
80 or more relatively well-equipped research insti-
tutes. China’s scientific strength and continuity
of effort in the various basic scientific disciplines
is found in the Academy. It is also a service
organization supplying research and development
support to both civil and military programs of the
country. Direct military control of parts of the
Academy or part of individual research laboratories
is probable. Another important role of the Acad-
emy is the training of new scientists, a role sup-
plementing that of the regular universities and col-
leges. The Academy’s China Universities of Sci-
ence and Technology founded in 1958, in Peiping
and Shanghai, offer a 5-year undergraduate cur-
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pproved for Release: 2018/01/30