Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense

The Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND; 国防科学技术工业委员会) was a civilian commission within the State Council of the People's Republic of China, responsible for setting policy for defense procurement. It was considered as the Chinese counterpart of DARPA of the US. The ministry was formed in 1982 to centralize Chinese defense procurement and technology whose responsibility had been distributed among several agencies. In March 2008, COSTIND was merged into a new ministry called the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and renamed as the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND). The final-term COSTIND deputy director, Chen Qiufa, was named as the head of SASTIND.

History

In August 1982, COSTIND was formed by merging the National Defense Science and Technology Commission (NDSTC), the National Defense Industries Office (which was in the State Council's purview), and the Office of the Science, Technology, and Armaments Commission (which was in the purview of the Central Military Commission).: 43  COSTIND oversaw defense R&D, production, and procurement.: 77  It included both military and civilian personnel.: 77 

In 1998, the government split COSTIND into the General Armament Department of the People's Liberation Army and the "new" COSTIND, reporting directly to the State Council.: 43  Also in 1998, COSTIND began the "national defense science and technology innovation project.": 119 

COSTIND played an important role in the space program of China as one of its subagencies the China National Space Administration is responsible for Chinese space policy. COSTIND administered the China Engineering and Technology Information Network (CETIN), which has been described as a "one-stop shop for foreign military technology information."

The China Atomic Energy Authority was part of COSTIND.

In March 2008, COSTIND was renamed the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND).: 43 

Universities administered by COSTIND

Enterprises administered by COSTIND

List of chairmen

  1. Chen Bin (陈彬)
  2. Ding Henggao (丁衡高)
  3. Cao Gangchuan: 1996–1998
  4. Liu Jibin (刘积斌): 1998–2003
  5. Zhang Yunchuan: 2003–2007
  6. Zhang Qingwei: 2007–2008

List of political commissar

  1. Xing Yongning (邢永宁)
  2. Dai Xuejiang (戴学江)
  3. Li Jinai (李继耐): 1996–1998

See also

References

  1. ↑ "China's National Defense in 2008". State Council of the People's Republic of China. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012. According to the Plan for Restructuring the State Council passed by the First Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress in 2008, the Science, Technology and Industry Commission for National Defense of the People's Republic of China has been superseded by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
  2. ↑ 陈求发任辽宁省代省长 [Chen Qiufa appointed acting governor of Liaoning]. People's Daily (in Chinese). 8 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Zhang, Hui (2025). The Untold Story of China's Nuclear Weapon Development and Testing: A Technical History. Belfer Center Studies in International Security. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-05182-8.
  4. 1 2 3 Kennedy, Andrew B. (2026). Rebellious Follower: China's Search for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/9780197824689.001.0001. ISBN 9780197824658.
  5. ↑ Hannas, William C.; Mulvenon, James; Puglisi, Anna B. (14 June 2013). Chinese Industrial Espionage: Technology Acquisition and Military Modernisation. Routledge. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-135-95261-7.
  6. ↑ China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine