This claim seems a little dubious to me. China seems pretty good at 'obtaining' the info they need to give them a head start, plus they're a manufacturing powe

This claim seems a little dubious to me. China seems pretty good at 'obtaining' the info they need to give them a head start, plus they're a manufacturing powerhouse with a ruthless determination to 'get stuff done'. They also don't face commercial pressure to release stuff slowly. Sure it'll take them some time, but 'decades' seems to me to underestimate their capabilities.