Japan literally took American ideas and make them work. Japan brought over American innovators who were stifled at GM and Ford. They put in the production that killed Detroit.

Not with top down, hierarchical societal conformation. No room to foster innovation.

Stealing. The word is stealing not catching up. It really doesn’t matter matter because China lacks the creativity and forethought to make the tech work. That’s a cultural problem.

So China does not allow American companies in china nor do they allow most imports. Then they steal any ip they can get ahold of. Then you complain about the free market in a totalitarian state? Yeah, nah.