Beijing

The efforts of China's research community to argue for policies that favour technological innovation have received a boost from an unexpected quarter — NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, last May.

The bombing appears to have led to a greater recognition of the importance of science and technology by the Chinese people, including top government officials. The development of cutting-edge technologies is regarded as crucial to national security. Privately, scientists are saying that the bombing has stimulated the government into increasing its attention to science and technology.

Last week, 23 scientists were awarded gold medals — some posthumously — for their contributions to the development of China's first nuclear weapons, missiles and first satellite. The medals were presented by president Jiang Zemin at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The ceremony was presided over by Li Peng, chairman of the National People's Congress. Jiang and prime minister Zhu Rongji addressed the meeting, speaking highly of the achievements of the scientists. All Politburo members and top government officials were present.

“Without national defence, there will be no nation; without a national defence industry, there will be no national defence,” said Zhu recently. A statement issued by the government says: “Without grasping state-of-the-art technologies, we will be bullied.”

In the weeks after the bombing, discussions in the science community emphasized the achievements of Chinese scientists in developing the nation's first atomic and hydrogen bombs, and missiles, in the 1960s. Participants stressed the need for China to develop its own high technologies so that the United States could no longer bully it.

The bombing appears to have increased the respect given to scientists. Leading scientists from military research organizations have been invited to talk on television about the technologies used by NATO in its bombing of the embassy.