[FooBarWidget]

Heck China has been in this exact predicament for decades. They imported all the foreign technology they can, while simultaneously learning all they can to make things themselves and stop being dependent. After 50 years it's finally paying off. They could not be where they are now had they blocked all foreign imports from the start.

[leonidasrup]

Technology and know-how transfer was exactly the price paid by western companies for outsourcing to China. The companies got increased profits for few years and at the same time trained their future competition.

For example:

"Apple is considered the "Great Teacher" of China for playing a pivotal role in upgrading the nation's industrial, manufacturing, and technological skills over the past 25 year"

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/books/review/apple-in-chi...

[FooBarWidget]

This can be said of any human in any context. The juniors that work in your company can become your future competitors. Yet nobody concludes "never hire juniors".