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Article | Cloud Utopia
Edit | Cloud Utopia
preface
In 2020, American General John Thompson's Ask Musk, the richest man in the world at that time: "What should the United States do to defeat China?"
As soon as this bold question was asked, the audience immediately focused on Musk's face, nervously waiting for his answer, while following the people around him there were many discussions 。
Musk quickly gave his answer, which was very special and made everyone present silent.
So what did Musk say at that time, Is that what makes you so amazing? Three years have passed. Is his opinion still worth our attention today?
Sharp questions, special answers
Let's turn the clock back to the calm afternoon in February 2020. In San Francisco, the United States, a seminar on "military space" is being held. At the meeting, not only many experienced air force pilots were gathered, but also many elite people from the folk, including the millionaire Elon Musk.
At the beginning of the seminar, US Air Force Admiral Thompson invited Musk to the stage. After all, as the richest man in the world at that time, Musk His words and deeds are very attractive. As the CEO of Tesla, Musk also knows the prospect of various high-tech technologies very well. It is true that he will do an interview It's perfect.
After Musk came to power, Thompson first asked several questions about the integration of civilian high-tech and military space. Musk gave his own insights, and the pilots listened with great interest.
However, nobody expected Thompson to suddenly turn the subject around and throw a very sharp question to Musk - "How can the United States defeat China?"
Rao Mask is used to seeing big scenes. After hearing Thompson's straightforward question, he couldn't help but be stunned. The air force pilots present are also keeping their minds on their side whisper to one another , express his opinion, look at Musk expectantly and wait for his answer.
After all, Musk is also used to seeing big storms. Although he was caught off guard by the other side's question just now, he only had a very brief consideration, I immediately organized my answers 。
He said calmly: "If the United States wants to defeat China, it must speed up its pace in scientific and technological innovation and put more effort into it."
Once the answer is given, The scene suddenly fell silent Admiral Thompson also looked unconvinced. After all, in the eyes of these Americans, America's scientific and technological innovation ability has been among the top in the world.
Musk's answer is obviously to tell everyone that China's technological innovation ability is also very strong, at least not weaker than that of the United States, which is enough to make the United States feel a sense of crisis.
As if we could see the objection from everyone's reaction, Musk made a more surprising addition, saying: "I think that China's economy will eventually surpass that of the United States, It may be more than twice, or it may be three times. "
The people present at that time had no recollection of Musk's "amazing words" for a long time, The scene fell into an awkward silence 。 So, why on earth did Musk give such an answer? Is he deliberately attracting attention? Of course not. Although Musk answered quickly at that time, his answer was over in one's mind It has his basis.
Musk's Basis
Mask is a world-famous millionaire, naturally with outstanding business brains, but his talent is obviously more than that. He is also an expert in the field of science and technology. When Musk was very young, he made money by writing code and software. Later, he created many companies including Tesla through continuous accumulation.
Moreover, he also founded a company called SpaceX Space Exploration Technology, which shows that he is very concerned about the field of scientific and technological innovation.
At the same time, his company also has a lot of cooperation with China, so he should be able to have a general understanding of China's scientific and technological innovation ability. Therefore, if he thinks that China can equal the United States in scientific and technological innovation ability, or even have the same experience, it should be more convincing.
In fact, the United States is also aware of this, otherwise they would not be so eager to suppress Huawei, ZTE And other high-tech enterprises in China. The United States may have long felt the tremendous progress of China in scientific and technological innovation, and felt the pressure from it.
In fact, this road of scientific and technological innovation is the result of the tireless efforts of countless industry workers in China for decades. As early as ten years ago, China has Manufacturing It surpasses the United States. However, these industries are often limited to garment manufacturing and accessories manufacturing, lacking scientific and technological capability.
Later, in China's active exploration, smart phones, biological science, space science, artificial intelligence and other aspects of the high-tech industry also quickly catch up in a short time. In the past decade, China has made many achievements in scientific and technological innovation World attention Achievements.
In terms of transportation, more than ten years ago, China's high-speed railway mainly relied on the introduction of foreign technology, but now, the "Fuxing", which was developed by China's full autonomy, has shown the world the proud speed of China!
In terms of nuclear power, China's "Hualong No.1" has also become the world's first reactor for commercial use, and three generation nuclear power technology can no longer defeat China.
In terms of satellite navigation, the Beidou navigation chip has demonstrated great innovation and vitality, greatly enhanced the autonomy of China's satellite navigation, and gradually got rid of the monopoly of GPS.
In addition to these industries, there are many scientific and technological achievements that we can "see and touch", which are constantly strengthening the strength of our country and improving people's lives.
Musk has invested in Shanghai Tesla Company and other projects in China. He naturally saw and heard the rapid changes in China with his own eyes. So he can feel the "sense of crisis" for the United States, and pointed out that the United States should continue to work harder on scientific and technological innovation, and even do "Radical innovation" 。 This view is indeed reasonable.
As for what he said, "China's economy will surpass that of the United States, even more than twice or even three times", it is not alarmist. According to the statistical results released at the beginning of this year, China has made another brilliant report in 2022: the GDP of the whole year increased by 3% over 2021.
The total economic output has exceeded 120 trillion yuan, ranking second in the world.
This not only means that China's comprehensive national strength has taken a new step, but also people have reason to expect that under the continuous struggle of the Chinese people, China's economic development will remain high quality and solid.
Musk could have made it three years ago "China's economy will surpass that of the United States" It can be said that our judgment is far sighted. His prediction is very likely to come true in the future.
Whether the United States has achieved Musk's point of view
As an American, Musk gave such an answer, apparently based on the United States, felt a deep sense of crisis, and then made a rational judgment. Does the United States attach importance to what Musk pointed out in his answer "Radical innovation" What about opinions and implementation?
Unfortunately, in the face of China's ever-changing changes and progress, the United States does not want to strive for innovation, self-improvement and positive competition. Instead, they try to "contain" and attack some of China's emerging industries in many fields.
For example, in the semiconductor field, the United States has already done similar things. In 2022, the New York Times put forward such analysis on the development of China's semiconductor industry: the semiconductor industry in mainland China has developed rapidly, even surpassing the United States in key technologies.
Relevant analysis also believes that, Some high-tech enterprises in mainland China It is completely possible to produce high-end chips independently, and with time and cost input, it is not difficult to achieve mass production.
This makes the United States, which has always been proud of semiconductors, restless. In April of that year, US President Biden held a special video conference and said to a group of US politicians that "we can no longer rely on chips made in China".
Four months later, Biden signed Chip and Science Act This is a very rare large-scale industrial policy in the history of the United States, and its purpose is obviously to respond to China's innovation and influence in high-tech, and try to ensure its position in the competition by continuing to suppress China's chip industry.
There are many similar crackdowns, but this is also the consistent style of the United States. In the 1980s, the United States signed the Japan US Semiconductor Agreement with Japan, which stipulates that "if Japan exports semiconductors, it will pay 100% tariff". This sanction also made Japan's semiconductor industry, which was once in the limelight, go into recession.
It is not difficult to see from these means and styles that the United States has been using in its competition with other countries that although Musk's proposal is very reasonable, the Americans obviously did not listen to it. They still focus on malicious competition against other countries.
How does this Q&A enlighten us?
As an American general, Thompson raised such a sharp question to Musk. Is there any ulterior motive? Musk and his questions and answers, What kind of inspiration can it bring to us today?
In fact, behind Thompson's question, it is not difficult to find that the United States has always had a fear of our country. The relationship between countries is always the coexistence of cooperation and competition. Good cooperation and competition can not only promote each other's development and progress, but also make the world situation more stable, Human civilization can also be further promoted 。
In this regard, countries around the world should be pleased with the continuous improvement of China's innovation capability. Unfortunately, the United States has obviously failed to figure this out in many cases.
In recent years, they have repeatedly suppressed Chinese enterprises. For example, the United States has personally stepped down to "sanction" Huawei, and has also become a "four party alliance of chips" to suppress China's chip industry. In fact, in essence, they are still very harmful to the rise of China's science and technology, in an attempt to use such "invisible" means to block us technically.
However, such an attempt is obviously wishful thinking. No matter in the semiconductor industry or other high-tech fields, our research will not be locked by the United States, and with the release of various research achievements, we will usher in more breakthroughs in science and technology.
The "radical innovation" point of view mentioned by Musk can also give us many useful inspirations: the world is in a stage of rapid change and development. Under such a background, The importance of technology and innovation is self-evident.
They will provide a strong productivity and power for a country and a nation. Therefore, no matter how great the external pressure is, we should adhere to the pace of independent innovation. The so-called "a thousand grinds and ten thousand strikes are still strong, regardless of the wind from east to west, north to south". Only in this way can we deeply take root and stand among the nations in the world.
epilogue
Musk is right that China's future economy may surpass that of the United States by two to three times. This is not a blind evaluation, but because he saw the great potential of China in scientific and technological innovation and appreciated the changes and breakthroughs that China has constantly made.
I believe that with the continuous efforts of the Chinese people, our country will continue to walk on the road of becoming a powerful country through science and technology, and will achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This is the trend of history, and no one can stop it.
