Facing the future with confidence, standing on the shoulders of giants

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of China’s space industry and the 62nd anniversary of the beginning of the Third Front Construction — a strategic endeavor to relocate or establish key military research and production infrastructure deep inland, at the height of the Cold War.

One such facility was the 066 Base in Yuan’an, a lesser-known county in Hubei province, which I recently visited.

As I viewed the rusting remnants of machinery, I was struck by the efforts of those scientists, engineers and workers who built such a vast missile manufacturing complex from scratch in the 1960s.

Walking among buildings inside the once “mysterious” base, I experienced more than just a history lesson, as I realized that the spirit of those who worked at the site is a compass guiding us through the challenges facing the country today, ranging from technological containment attempts to blatant interference in the Taiwan question.

The significance of the Third Front Construction cannot be overstated. It was a monumental, strategic undertaking during a period of acute external pressure that enabled China to lay an unshakable foundation for an independent and comprehensive defense industry.

The 066 Base, now the Ninth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, stands as a testament to this enduring spirit.

In essence, the Third Front bases served as the nation’s ultimate insurance policy. The value of this “insurance” is timeless, reminding us that true security stems from the capacity for self-reliance.

The ethos of the countless Third Front Construction pioneers possesses a power that transcends decades. Faced with a blank slate, scarce resources, and daunting technological barriers, they relied not on external assistance but on collective resolve, innovative thinking and revolutionary optimism. In today’s context, this spirit fuels the nation’s drive to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, build a robust, innovative economy, and strengthen national defense — not to impose its will on others, but to prevent others from imposing their will on it, safeguarding the Chinese people’s right to peaceful development and contributing to a more balanced, multipolar world.

The silent factories in Yuan’an tell a story of how a nation, through foresight and fortitude, built its shield. They embody a spirit that declares no barrier is insurmountable when people unite for a shared goal.

Policymakers and local communities must invest in places like the 066 Base — not only as museums of the past, but also as classrooms for the future.

Imagine young students touring the 066 Base, hearing firsthand how a team of scientists and engineers, who lived in shabby houses, turned scrap metals into missiles. This isn’t nostalgia; it’s a catalyst. As we navigate the complex currents of the 21st century, marked by both opportunity and renewed forms of containment, these sites are sources of inspiration, teaching the next generation that resilience isn’t inherited — it’s built, one brick, one missile, one dream at a time.

Too many Third Front relics have been fading into neglect. We must honor this legacy by protecting and revitalizing them.

In today’s world of tech wars and geopolitical strife, the spirit of the Third Front pioneers is our most vital resource. Let us not just remember them, let us live by their example. For when we stand on the shoulders of giants, we don’t just look back, we rise.