It is very, VERY far from being that simple. They are several decades behind the US and EU in jet turbine technology, for instance. And their chip foundries are definitely not considered bleeding edge. You have to go to SK and Taiwan for that. And part of Taiwan’s publicized defense policy is “we will melt our chip foundries to slag if the PRC invades”. Them being basically the best in the world at chip fabrication was a strategic investment (in a very literal geopolitical sense) that they began in the 70s and 80s.
It is very, VERY far from being that simple. They are several decades behind the US and EU in jet turbine technology, for instance. And their chip foundries are definitely not considered bleeding edge. You have to go to SK and Taiwan for that. And part of Taiwan’s publicized defense policy is “we will melt our chip foundries to slag if the PRC invades”. Them being basically the best in the world at chip fabrication was a strategic investment (in a very literal geopolitical sense) that they began in the 70s and 80s.
Taiwan specializes in microchips, and China having to order chips from them isn’t a big deal … in terms of building/assembling an electric car.
The question was “what do we have that they don’t” and the answer is “it’s complicated, but the list is not short”