Towards a European vision for space exploration: Recommendations of the Space Advisory Group of the European Commission

When China Goes to the Moon...

“…Space Science and Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050. 70 Aimed at "laying the foundation for China to become a science and technology powerhouse by the middle of the twenty-first century", the guidelines identify a number of ambitious targets to support the development of an indigenous innovation system. 68 As Premier Wen Jiabao remarked: "We fundamentally have to rely on two main drivers, one, to persist in the promotion of opening and reforms, and two, rely on the progress of science and technology and the strengths of innovation".…”

“…70 The specific technologies to be developed in regard to a manned lunar exploration programme and further considerations on China's innovation efforts will be presented in Sects. 70 The specific technologies to be developed in regard to a manned lunar exploration programme and further considerations on China's innovation efforts will be presented in Sects.…”

“…Lunar exploration was defined as "the first step in China's deep space exploration effort". 70 The decision to postpone the project was for the government motivated by the lack of strong scientific motivations. 78 It received final approval in January 2004 from Premier Wen Jiabao.…”

“…However, it is also true that, 27 years later, the development of "democratic institutions" is still far from being initiated, 70 and the obsession with stability of the Deng era could also become self-defeating: it is indeed transforming itself into a source of new problems that may in the future pose real threats to the country's stability. 71 As a recent study by the World Bank and the P.R.C.…”

“…73 Moreover, the conditions for a new Tiananmen-style protest are for many scholars already present. 75 Through the so-called Jasmine Revolutions, 76 Chinese leaders have 70 The goal of democracy has been present only in the rhetoric of Chinese leaders, but it is clear that a first answer would lie in the replacement of this rhetoric with at least good political governance. As in imperial China, the spread of social instability is still considered a sign of the geming-the revocation of the celestial mandate-which calls for radical leadership changes.…”