Asian cultures have this idea that you learn from the masters by copying them. After you master the previous state of art you start to improve upon it. When you laugh at stealing copycats you fail to see the constant gradual improvement.
Marty McFly: What do you mean, Doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan
Also a lot of western cars in that periods where not so hot - the Austin Allegro for one
The US has painfully acquired the expertise and skills over half century. Thousands of aviators and sailors have died over decades until the current level of expertise has been reached.
Chinese have studied and copied everything. They translated USN carrier vessel flight deck manuals into Chinese and adopted it almost verbatim. Even the colors are the same. That's really smart thing to do. Trying to innovate and do your own thing starting from scratch because you have the false sense of pride and need be different would be stupid.
The trick to success is to expose companies to free competition in the global markets while protecting and supporting them in every other way. State aid in financing loan guarantees was the norm. Protecting home markets from competition was the norm.