> Isn't wide dissemination "about espionage, theft, forced technology transfers, and mandatory joint ventures" enough a deterrence for companies to stop going into China? Apparently not.

You're right, and at the same time, that's not the point. The USA has been granting China favorable deals, which has resulted in trade deficits. The expectation is that the China will at least follow and enforce international trade law. The USA decided that the Chinese government is not doing this and is instead actively subverting it at the expense of US companies. This is a response to that.