Since 1953, China has periodically introduced five-year plans to guide its economic transformation. The 15th five-year plan, unveiled in October 2025, aims to address sluggish domestic growth and intensifying geopolitical rivalry by emphasizing technological self-reliance, industrial modernization, and expanded domestic demand. President Xi Jinping and other leaders are betting on innovation-driven growth to secure China’s future, despite concerns about weak consumer spending and economic risks. The plan prioritizes advanced manufacturing, tech innovation, and green industries, such as aerospace, renewable energy, and quantum computing. Beijing’s focus on indigenizing critical technologies and military-civil fusion underscores its dual goals of economic and national security. However, the plan’s limited attention to boosting domestic demand and household consumption raises questions about its ability to rebalance the economy. While China’s push for high-tech industries could reshape global supply chains, it may also exacerbate trade frictions with advanced economies. The success of this ambitious plan will ultimately depend on whether it improves the lives of Chinese citizens by 2030.