[Skybird]

Cost, design, schedule.

The costs they can shoulder easier than the US, because their finances are much more healthier.

Design, they steal a lot by spionage and computer hacking, and for many years we stupid Wetserners have delivered them the needed hightech to form their own hightech industry, because "technology transfer" was and is their criterion wheter or not any Western company got a permission to do business in China or deliver it goods. Short-termed profit was moire important for us than long-sighted strategic concerns, so we have no right to complain - we kicked our butts all ourselves. Physics problem often tend to see comparable or same solutions if being tried from various directions, the rules of avionice are the same for everyone for example, and so the more time is being spend the greater the likelihood becomes that everybody shows up with similiar designs. Global media and global science and technology publication as well as observing what the Americans did and do, saves them time: they must not re-invent the wheel from scratch again. Probes of materials as well as technology samples have been stolen or otherwise got in their hands. The spyplane affair several years ago. the Nighthawk shot down in the balkans war. But the worst damage they do by computer spionage, and us stupids accepting technology transfer.

Schedule, well, they have all time they want, they have patience, and they have a centralised government reducing reaction times. They know the balance is changing in their favour anyway.

When the first Japanese cars appeared especially on the German market in the 70s, people laiughed, they were too small in internal compartments, and had no good quality. But they immediately started to improve, and condstantly became better. Today, the car market is unimaginable without Japanese brands being amongst the top ranks in quality.

The Mig-29 was massively underestimated in the West - until the fall of the wall and the German Luftwaffe getting access to a squadron of former Eastgherman Fulcrums. Testflights by German and allied pilots showed how superb the plane performed in many categories, much better than anyone thought. But one did not want to depend on deliveries of spareparts from Russia, so the squadron was decommissioned nevertheless.

There is a trend in the West, since long, and especially in the military, to overestimate oneself. Maybe because the myth of invincibility historically contributes to the overall influence and effect of existing armies. Once that reputation is lost, the rules of the game have changed.