China's 1.3B population is not equal. around 700M still lives on $140/month income, with no education to "accomplish anything they want". It will have 500M 65 year olds by 2050, too old to "accomplish anything they want".
China suffers brain drain to the West. Many of Chinese Ph.D students and scientists I know curse the day Xi Jing Ping declared himself to be the emperor, and is actively moving their families out of China as quickly as possible after 2018.
China has had very little luck in advanced semiconductor or airplane engine productions
Not to disagree, but I believe it's just a matter of time. They're working hard in these areas.
Also, recent stats I read somewhere say Chinese Ph.D.'s are returning to China in increasing numbers these days, somewhere around 50% or more compared to the old days when the majority stayed in America or Europe.
The USSR worked hard on semiconductors and airplane engines, but ultimately failed to keep up with the West.
Turns out, people with the means generally prefer living in countries with (a) individual freedom and rights, (b) freedom of the press, (c) an independent judiciary, & (d) economic surplus that responds to demand for luxury goods.
We can whataboutism on where the West currently stands with regards to these things, but if you're pro- and con- ing various options as an educated professional then you have a choice.
And if culture is a major consideration, then you could do worse than the Chinese communities in neighboring democratic states, or the literal democratic Chinese island...
China suffers brain drain to the West. Many of Chinese Ph.D students and scientists I know curse the day Xi Jing Ping declared himself to be the emperor, and is actively moving their families out of China as quickly as possible after 2018.
China has had very little luck in advanced semiconductor or airplane engine productions