The world’s space industry would be even more impressive if we didn’t have these stupid fucking hangups and worked together with them on that front. Just like Russia and the US working to build ISS.

and looks like they’re using it for serious research too

You seldom hear about it because the Council on Foreign Relations would prefer you didn’t hear about it. China’s space prowess embodies the threat of a good example, which the capitalist class would prefer you didn’t notice, so the media—which they own—seldom cover it.