Different departments. Rockets=/=space station, or a Mars rover. This is like trying to give the PLAN the credit for the J-20. Why not give SpaceX credit for the James webb space telescope too while we're at it. Yes, other aspects of space development are moving fast, but rockets are literally the most important part of a space program and they were ignored for decades. The YF-100 is a good engine, but too bad that like there's like 5 rockets a year that's launching that uses the YF-100, compared to the 50-60 launches a year that China can output.
Is it not true that
1) The hypergolic rockets have basically been in service for like 30 years straight with no major upgrades
2) The modern cryogenic rocket roll-out have been progressing at a snail's pace and were introduced very late into China's development cycle
3) The pace is extremely slow for a rocket development. America went from first orbital flight to a super heavy rocket in 9 years. China went from making orbit in 1970 to a super heavy rocket in ??? years, because it hasn't even flown one yet.
4) The speed of rocket development has skyrocketed in the last 5 years, with dozens of different rocket and rocket engines designs, most of which are reusable and are of extremely powerful rockets, most of the dozen or so F9 clones can carry >15 tons to LEO, making them the 2nd most powerful rocket in China, only behind the LM5. Where was this speed 20 years ago? Oh yeah, no SpaceX to copy...
The CZ-5 rocket comparison is hilarious. China sent her first rocket into orbit in 1970, the CZ-5 made her maiden launch in 2016, 46 years. Do you know how long it took America or the soviet union from first orbit to first heavy lift rocket? Less then 10 years.
