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China is increasingly using international standardization activity as a strategic instrument with which to cement its position as a technology leader. As part of the “China Standards 2035” strategy, SAC, the Chinese standards organization, is assuming more and more secretariats of ISO technical committees, and is posting Chinese experts in growing numbers to positions of responsibility on standards committees.
From an external and purely objective standpoint, China’s motivation here is entirely legitimate, since participation in standardization activity is in principle open to any stakeholder; indeed, this is an important basic principle of standardization.
Vigilance is nevertheless called for. In particular, it must be ensured that the global system of standardization continues to be governed by traditional values of consensus-based standardization, organized in accordance with democratic principles. Standardization has an important role in the functioning of the world economy. Precisely for that reason, it should not be abused for the furthering of national interests. The high level of safety in Europe, which of course includes Germany, must be maintained. «
The topics at a glance:
KANBrief 2/2021 (pdf, trilingual print version)
Individual language versions, accessible pdf:
German
English
French