Maybe he’s paranoid about industrial espionage. Doesn’t want to see a Chinese knock off hit the market before HIS machine does.
Yes, I understand paranoia about theft of ideas, money has no morals, but the only part he was going to manufacture was the “reactor” and that a simple machine shop could do with ease.
So again I suspect he's inflating the truth with his hopes and hype.
Why not? Reagan used a cold fusion scam to help bankrupt the USSR.
The Chinese aren’t that sharp on technology. They can copy something that is already developed, but haven’t come up with anything new on their own.