Abstract:After years of development, it is evident that China’s manufacturing industry has been seen a significant improvement in its scale and coverage. However, it has still not broken free from the dilemma of being big but not strong, comprehensive but not excellent. This phenomenon has garnered extensive attention from both the academic and policy communities. This study contends that technological progress is the core of high-quality development in the manufacturing industry. Through empirical research, it is discovered that for latecomer countries in the early stages of economic development, achieving economic growth and income improvement through technology imitation is relatively feasible. However, it becomes a challenging task to achieve technological catch-up and original technological progress after the phase of imitation. Based on this fact, it is argued that China is currently in a state of medium-level technology. It faces the potential threat of ambush from the front (technological blockades from advanced countries) and the pressure of pursuit from behind (low-cost competition from other latecomer countries). To avoid falling into the middle-technology trap, it is imperative to vigorously promote original technological progress.