[teractiveodular]

China's progress is real, but there are still many things like cutting-edge semiconductors and airplane engines they cannot compete in and thus rely on the West for.

The Chinese leadership is well aware of this and is massively funding efforts to build these indigenously, but they're chasing moving targets and still decades away from catching up.

[sneak]

Jet engines from decades ago are still more than sufficient. The gap is overstated.

China will win through brute scale and determination, I believe.