That's true though. The academic tradition in China was substantially dismantled several decades ago, and for decades afterward the focus was on practical fields (say, engineering rather than literature). Academics in China are under much more pressure than in Europe or the US to avoid politically controversial research or advocacy, and for better or worse students are under more pressure to pursue fields with high earning potential instead of those they find personally interesting.

I am sure the Chinese academy will continue to grow and develop dramatically over the next few decades, but it takes generations to rebuild after as big a disruption as the cultural revolution etc.

I don't disagree. I just find it surprising that anybody said it.