China introduced the Made in China 2025 plan on May 19, 2015, to keep pace with the new industrial revolution, and for upgrading and transforming its manufacturing industry. Since the global financial crisis, many countries have adopted a re-industrialization strategy, such as the US' National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing and Germany's Industrie 4.0, to meet the challenge of the new industrial revolution.

As a big industrial power with the world's largest manufacturer, China too should make efforts for upgrading its manufacturing industry. Made in China 2025's aim is to do exactly that, by promoting innovation in manufacturing and improving the industry's quality and efficiency. The plan's focus is on intelligent manufacturing, similar to the US and German strategies, and its 10 key areas of focus are also similar to those of the US' advanced manufacturing plan, and both aim to provide the direction for industrial development.

Since the United States has no reason to launch a trade war using such a plan as a pretext, its actions prove it wants to maintain its hegemony to deprive China's development rights.

Made in China 2025 follows the principle of market-orientation and competition, which is intrinsic to China's industrial upgrading and development. The primary principle of Made in China 2025 is to be led "by the market while (being) guided by the government". The Chinese government supposes that without the principle of market-orientation, China cannot fully transform and upgrade its manufacturing industry and effectively meet the challenges of the new industrial revolution.

China has stepped into the later stage of industrialization, where the economy's driving force has to be innovation, and Made in China 2025's aim is to inspire innovation by following the principle of market-orientation and competition.

On Oct 12, 2015, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued a document on promoting price mechanism reform through enhanced price supervision, enforcement of the Antitrust Law and gradual establishment of a basic competition policy. And in 2016, the State Council launched a fair competition review system to develop a fair market environment for foreign and domestic enterprises.