A brief history of China's Y-10: Imitation versus innovation

When development of China's large airplane, the YUN-10 (Y-10), began in the 1970s, disputes arose between those who supported imitation and those who espoused innovation. This paper discusses the three main stages of a debate that has endured almost four decades due to complex historical, political, technical, economic, public relations, and proprietary rights issues. In the first stage, innovation prevailed and the highly successful Y-10 resulted, leading to additional achievements and shortening the technological distance between Chinese and American airplane manufacturers. In the second stage, imitation dominated and the financing of Y-10 development was stopped. In the third stage, innovation again prevailed, and the Y-10 became China's National Important Project for the future. Two conclusions emerge. First, both the imitative and innovative technological routes have coexisted in Chinese airplane design and manufacture since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. But after the reform and opening-up of China, major changes occurred as a result of debates between the adherents of imitation and those who supported innovation. Academic arguments were instrumental in this fight. Second, imitation and innovation exert distinct functions at different periods and for different industries. However, innovation is most applicable to high-tech fields like airplane manufacture, and can greatly promote a country's scientific, technological, and economic systems.