Does China need to go down the traditional route to innovation when everyone else volunteers it to them and installs the manufacturing means and capital into their country voluntarily?

There might even be a curious second order effect that can help cancel out the lack of independent thought through censored education, due to the increase of means from disrespecting restrictive intellectual property ideas.

I admit, I don't have intimate knowledge about their industry. But many top ML/AI practitioners have acknowledged their capabilities in this area. Besides, you seem to be putting a lot of weight on pure "inventions" whereas there is considerable value in "standing on other's shoulders" and move ahead, so to speak.