Dr Richard Vogt, a German aircraft designer, went to Japan in the '20s and designed some aircraft for Kawasaki. He also trained the designer who drew up the Ki-61. Japan had an industry which went about importing aircraft and engines, building under license, and then developing their own. The Sempill Mission brought plans for aircraft carriers, and Herbert Smith, like Vogt, designed aircraft, and trained new designers. Vogt returned to Germany and worked at Blohm and Voss. Sempill returned to England as a Japanese spy. Herbert Smith was shunned upon return to England, and bought a hotel. They left Japan with air power, and confidence. But Japan had the industry, and political unity.
The situation in China was different. China got advice from advisors who made sales and taught, but no industry was in place to be developed. No designers arose. Contractors built assembly plants to assemble crated aircraft, but it went slowly. Pilot training was a joke as pilots were accepted on connections rather than ability. The only thing that worked was to bring in foreign planes and foreign pilots under foreign leadership.
Both China and Japan got plenty of input, but while Japan absorbed it, China wasted it.
The situation in China was different. China got advice from advisors who made sales and taught, but no industry was in place to be developed. No designers arose. Contractors built assembly plants to assemble crated aircraft, but it went slowly. Pilot training was a joke as pilots were accepted on connections rather than ability. The only thing that worked was to bring in foreign planes and foreign pilots under foreign leadership.
Both China and Japan got plenty of input, but while Japan absorbed it, China wasted it.