• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      From the article before the paywall:

      Between 2012 and 2021 foreign firms increased their collective Chinese research personnel by a fifth, to 716,000. Their annual R&D spending in the country almost doubled, to 338bn yuan ($52bn). Add investments by local firms and China now matches Europe’s R&D tally (see chart). Only America splurges more.

      So it sounds like it kind of is.

      • Kaboom@reddthat.com
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        2 months ago

        China is not THE research lab. Youre saying they’re A lab.

        There is a difference.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I think that quibbling over an a/the issue when the article in general doesn’t really take that into consideration (journalists generally don’t write headlines, editors do) is not the best way to approach this subject.

          I think the article itself is pretty good.

          You can bypass the paywall here: https://archive.is/nVZTB

          • Kaboom@reddthat.com
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            2 months ago

            “The” means that its the ONLY lab. “A” means that its one of multiple. Its not pedantics, its just straight up lying.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Again- authors of articles generally do not write headlines. Editors do, just like editors have control over the artwork on the front cover of a book. You are judging a book by its cover. That’s why you read the blurb on the back and find out that Bigfoot isn’t actually in The Fellowship of the Ring.