Get the popcorn and beer ready! It took the U.S. — we invented aviation and carrier aviation — years just to launch and recover 2,000 pound biplanes at sea. It took us 30 years to be ready for WW II carrier aviation with prop planes. It took us 40 years to be able to handle jet aircraft. It took us 100 years to be able to field CVN-68s and F-18s. And the Chinese think they will be able to field a meaningful carrier aviation force with today’s aircraft from scratch? LOL! LOL!
We did a lot for carrier aviation and are now the preeminent nation in that area. However, the Brits had a lot to do with getting it started; they actually were first to try it and, for a time, were ahead of us in a number of innovations.
Reverse Engineering something is far simpler than building something for the first time.. someone else has already done all the hard work.
China will have its problems, but they aren’t having to overcome all the hurdles inventing the technology and skills in the first place did.