China absolutely has R&D and it is growing exponentially. Your "facts" are years (if not decades) old. Your understanding is based on 1980s conditions. Wake up!
I'm awake.
But if China is so far advanced why do they need the US to build them nuclear reactors? (Clue none of their nuclear subs doesn't leak radaiation)
Why does China need GE to show them how to build a jet airplane engine?
For semi-conductors I'll take American designed chips and fabrication processes. They are making jelly bean chips, not designing state of the art processors or fabs.
Why do they keep buying aircraft from Russia?
Or ships?