I dont know if you realize this but the vast majority of overseas chinese are NOT STEM. Had the overseas chinese been all STEM, they would not have been as successful as they are today. The US is primarily driven by legal, and finance professions, and chinese are over-represented in those accordingly. Of course I could have chosen to become a scientist (not hard considering how low entrance averages are in Canadian universities) but very few scientists can make over $300,000 by the time they are 30s. Also back when I was 18, I hardly was thinking that 13 years later america would start waging a global war on China. China of course is in need of more engineers and scientists to create ever more advanced systems and technologies, but it also needs access to cash (lets be real, money is hard power), and media capability. A web designer is also necessary in the fight against america in order to create media campaigns, just like how an accountant/financier is needed to fund ever increasing projects. The fight against America will be omni-channel, involving access to capital, public relations, along with science and technology.
I'm not gonna be stupid and say an accountant is equal to an aerospace engineer pound for pound, but at the same time you should also realize that America didn't become the world's pre-eminent power by having the most scientists or engineers. Otherwise we would be speaking german in the reich today. America's power comes from the ability to have a large scientific base, coupled with mobilization of the worlds financial resources under the current IMF/WB system, and a massive public relations/propaganda network that leverages other countries to augment areas where america is weak/deficient. STEM is the core foundation of power, but its not the only pillar, something I must remind people on SDF if,
To boil it succinctly, I have no doubt you would be a better engineer at DJI to design a drone than me. Your years of scientific training would lead you to that. But you aren't doing that right now. I have in the course of the last year spent well over $10,000 on DJI products, specifically since they represent the bleeding edge of civilian tech which I can reasonably invest in. Its with the same mind-set that I have shifted my investment allocations to double my exposure to China equities from 25% to 50% last year. We each contribute in our own ways.