The USA is like 3x larger than Japan in terms of population, GDP and R&D spending.
So of course Japan was going to struggle.
In comparison, China has 4x the population, and is working to becoming 3x-4x larger than the USA in terms of GDP and R&D.
That is irrelevant as far as those niche industries are concerned. You cannot produce a baby in 4,5 months by doubling the number of pregnant women. Money won't solve this. For example, there are certain niche industrial sectors where the US is impossible to beat the Germans in. While having a hugely larger economy and R&D potential/output.
In other words, there is no catching up in those industries without intellectual theft. The target is both far away and moving fast. Case in point, COMAC.
On the other hand, that the playing field is a priori even. In said sectors China holds a pretty substantial advantage (take for example the electric car market). And as time passes on, China will also hold the bleeding edge in those sectors (like others do elsewhere).
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