When I argue for reverse tech transfer with China, people often ask whether China would be willing to do this after having just used this strategy. But remember: Japan and South Korea did partnerships

When I argue for reverse tech transfer with China, people often ask whether China would be willing to do this after having just used this strategy. But remember: Japan and South Korea did partnerships with Chinese firms after using this strategy themselves. Toyota even cut holes out of drawings shared with Chinese partners to prevent reverse engineering. Tech transfer has never been an easy task. Foreign partners will fight tooth and nail to guard their IP. Yes despite this, there are still many things—including beyond formal IP—that can be learned along the way. Great discussion of this by one of the greatest researchers on China’s industrial policy, Feng Kaidong