China Plans 2026-2030 Five-Year Push for Tech Self-Reliance and Domestic Growth

China is preparing its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) with a strong focus on achieving technological self-reliance and boosting domestic demand amid global economic pressures and U.S. trade tensions under President Donald Trump. The plan emphasizes advancing high-quality development through innovation in key sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, green energy, and biotechnology, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign technology and external markets. Chinese leadership, led by Xi Jinping, seeks to transform the economy from traditional growth drivers like exports and real estate to a more resilient, innovation-driven model that supports manufacturing upgrades and technological sovereignty. The strategy includes expanding domestic consumption and private investment to rebalance growth, addressing challenges like an aging population and slowing property markets. This push for self-sufficiency is viewed as both an economic necessity and a geopolitical maneuver to secure China’s industrial autonomy amid global supply chain reconfigurations and technological protectionism. Overall, the plan signals continuity in China's policy direction while marking a decisive shift towards innovation-led modernization and greater economic security.