-—china imported raw materials and exported finished products. To put a finer point on that thot the chicoms were essentially exporting the cheap labor that they added to their produce. I well remember back in the 90’s, the Klintoon years, that Walmart claimed they were a major force in keeping US inflation down since they were bringing so much cheaper krap from china. That only worked for the one generation you mentioned. As soon as others saw cheap labor was exportable they started eating into chicom production. And only 1/4 of the chicom population actually benefitted from all that bizness. The coastal 300 million are the extent of the new middle class.
Maybe this is why we don’t know who built the pyramids? They maxxed out their industrial economy, lost their tools, and starved out?
IN late... with a headache... 😰