China just has a higher potential for this sort of thing because of the single party system. NASA and space travel is so politicized in the West that it feels more ineffective in comparison. At the very least if China sets a goal, regardless of how long a timeframe it ultimately will take, they never have to worry about their plans being demolished by the next guy coming in to lead, because there is no next guy.

If Biden upped NASA spending, you know for a fact that whoever comes next from the opposing party is going to, just on principle alone, attempt to undo and dismantle every plan set up by the previous government. If we keep having internal power struggles like this with plans being negated every four years since nobody wants to agree, it’s clear China will beat us to major milestones.

Good to know we’re not being outpaced on launches though. Glad to be wrong on that one.