China
- Mass
- Coordination
- Industriousness
- Individual discipline
- Cultural emphasis on education
If I recall correctly, the first three being America's strengths during World War II.
In terms of tech, the Germans were ahead overall and the nuke was developed largely with the work of European scientists who had fled from the Nazis.
They are lacking in ingenuity at this point. This is their hurdle and what keeps the rest of us still ahead of the curve. I believe with the number and quality of scientists that are returning to China this may (and I say, may) change.
The issue is not necessarily where they are now but where they can be in a short period of time.
Look at the case study of South Korea. 20 years ago, it was just one of many 3rd world countries in the world. Today it is without a doubt a developed country (Except Itaewon, which for some reason has chosen to stay in the 1980's). The Chinese can possibly do the same, but with the mass of their country one can only imagine the sort of results they can pull off.
South Korea couldn't invent or innovate anything better than a paper bag a decade or two ago, today it has pretty much replaced Japan as the consumer electronics power house. And unlike the myth, South Korea did the most important parts of this development while under various military dictatorships.
I don't believe there's some special rule that they're not capable of doing the same because they're Chinese. They are capable. Their government is not a free one by no means, but their relationship with their population is not one where they can simply call all the shots without thinking twice.
As a soldier, I am sure you are no stranger to giving up your personal freedom for the sake of the Army. In China, except for separatists/freedom fighters and some minorities, they believe in self sacrifice for the sake of their country. So what you do for the Army, what they're doing for their country is not so different. Difference is we believe that freedom should be enjoyed by the population. They don't necessarily agree. Courage, Honor and Commitment in all walks of life.
And there's also an obsession with education. That's where I think the future of a country is made anyway.
The way they think is very different from the way you think.
I have to go for now.
Added:
Where are the Chinese inventions? Where is the originality and individulality? Why does the government not allow it's own people to freely surf the web? Take China back to the year 1900 and isolate from all technical achievements by all other nations.
The story of modern China starts roughly in the 80's. It's like talking about Korea pre-1965. Totally pointless.
Where do you think they would be right now? I think of it more as counter-rhetoric.
Go down a list of Western nations and think what they are exceptional at.
Germany - engineering.
France - clothing/art/musical history. The role these play in national power: zlich
Japan - robotics/ electrical engineering
USA - technological innovation Probably going to slow down if the reverse brain drain continues. Let's hope not.
UK - military history / cars / shipping Disagree on all three counts. Cars, again due to tradition, but I don't see a bunch of UK made cars roaming the streets in any other country except the UK.
Italy - cars Only the fancy cars. Those aren't the ones that carry the day. Oh yeah they have FIAT, but that's hardly one of the biggest makers in the world.
Spain - military history / shipping History isn't so important. Not much of a shipping powerhouse anymore.
on and on and on......... That list took me 2 minutes.
China - ?????
The Chinese have started making cars and with experience they'll get better at it, just like everything else they have made. The quality of made in China goods have gone up, and so have prices incidentally. A lot of manufacturing is starting to shift towards Southeast Asia and also South Asia.
