Reading the latest intellectual property statistics released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), I strongly feel that China’s IP policy has entered a new stage. The fact that China now holds over five million valid domestic invention patents—making it the first country in the world to reach this milestone—and has maintained the number-one position in PCT international patent filings for six consecutive years carries significance far beyond sheer volume. It reflects the steady execution of China’s unwavering policy to place intellectual property at the core of its national strategy.
One notable indicator is that China now possesses 15.3 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people and more than 1.4 million valid patents in strategically emerging industries. These figures clearly show that the quality of research and development activities is steadily improving. The rise in high-value patents is particularly important because it represents more than simply accumulating large numbers of patents—it is directly linked to industrial competitiveness and technological distinctiveness.
The economic impact of intellectual property utilization is also impossible to ignore. Reports indicate that patent-intensive industries account for more than 13% of China’s GDP, while copyright-related and geographical-indication industries also generate substantial added value. This demonstrates that China is redefining IP from something to be “protected” to something that actively “generates revenue.” In other words, the IP system is beginning to function as a driving force for economic growth.
As Liang noted, the shift from “accumulating quantity” to “enhancing quality” is a key concept for understanding China’s future IP strategy. By strengthening high-value patents, pursuing independent development in critical technology fields, and implementing systematic IP utilization policies, China is redefining intellectual property as the foundation of national scientific and technological autonomy.
This trend is highly relevant for Japan as well. In global competition, intellectual property is one of the most critical resources supporting a nation’s technological and industrial strength. How Japan interprets China’s accelerating IP strategy and reflects it in its own policies will only grow more important in the years ahead.