Exploring China's Third Front: Lessons in Self-Reliance and National Security

Welcome to another episode of Drum Tower, where we delve into the fascinating history and current affairs of China. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the covert plan known as China's Third Front, initiated by Mao Zedong during the Cold War era.

The Third Front was a strategic move to relocate core industries inland, away from the coastal regions, in anticipation of potential attacks from the United States or the Soviet Union. To gain a firsthand understanding of this ambitious plan, we visit Panzhihua, a city that was built as part of the Third Front.

Join us as we uncover the historical context and motivations behind the Third Front, and explore the valuable lessons it holds for China's current focus on self-reliance and national security. Our hosts engage in thought-provoking discussions, highlighting the fragility of arguments based solely on economic self-interest and the crucial role of prioritizing security in times of danger.

During our visit to Panzhihua, we have the privilege of interviewing locals who have personal connections to the Third Front. Through their firsthand accounts, we gain insights into the significance of self-reliance in today's world and its impact on China's relationship with the West.

As the episode draws to a close, we examine the parallels between the Third Front era and China's current policies. What are the implications of China's renewed emphasis on self-reliance and national security? How does this shape China's interactions with the Western world?

Join us on this captivating journey through history and geopolitics as we unravel the complexities of China's Third Front and its lasting impact on China's present-day policies and global relationships.

Panzhihua used to be a state secret. The steel-making city, buried deep in the mountains of Sichuan, formed part of Mao Zedong’s Third Front, a covert plan to move core industries inland in case America or the Soviet Union attacked. 

David Rennie, The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief, travels to Panzhihua to reflect on China’s ambitious, costly experiment in self-reliance. He and Alice Su, The Economist’s senior China correspondent, ask what lessons the city provides today and what happens when China’s leaders choose national security over economic interests. 

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