And? In 2003 they weren't even close to technological and industrial parity but even then it was fairly evident that they would be within < 25 years.

Now they're not far off parity - maybe 5-7 years before they can manufacture anything the US can.

Trends that continue for a long time do not continue forever. That goes double for things that look like a free lunch.

Exactly. People seem to forget that the fastest (publicly known) supercomputer in the world is made of components that are 100% chinese made (including the CPUs). They are catching up fast, and yet folks continue to bury their heads in the sand.