By Li Hongmei

China must invest more resources into developing its own carbon fiber materials to strengthen the domestic defense industry, according to a report from Outlook Weekly, an outlet operated by the Xinhua News Agency.

Carbon fiber is crucial in the development of spacecraft such as the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10, the report said. China first began to develop its carbon fiber industry in the 1960s, around the same time as the United States and Japan. However, the industry was nearly decimated during the Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976, and didn't resume production until the late 1970s.

Around 30 enterprises dedicated to the development of carbon fiber have been established over the past couple of decades, the report said. Among them, Weihai Tuozhan Fiber, Hengshen Fibre Materials, and Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber are the three leading companies in the field. In addition, Zhongheng Jiyan High-Tech Fibers was responsible for the development of the carbon fiber used for the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft launched in June.

China is currently unable to produce enough carbon fiber for its own aircraft and spacecraft, however, as it cannot import polyacrylonitrile under a ban imposed by the United States. A Japanese company can thus produce more carbon fiber a year than the entire 30 Chinese enterprises together, with the Tokyo-based Toray Industries able to make nearly 20,000 tonnes of carbon fiber annually.

To ensure that China does not fall behind, Outlook Weekly said that China must pay more attention to the issue.