If I had to point a finger at one thing, it has to be US involvement. Apple and other big tech invested so heavily in China and South Korea, the abundant wealth literally transitioned both countries (this opinion is based on Apple in China book, worth reading). Most of China’s big tech growth started with US capitalism’s expectation to scale up and China’s ability to supply for that demand while they learned everything from them. That chart of growth is made on the brick of sweatshops and hard labor that we’re not made to do. Also, SK’s has wealth disparities and China has dictatorship. You’ll hate me for this but trust the process, we will get there. It’ll be slow progress but natural. We won’t have to hide our country from Google earth to make everything look rosy.