When the annals of how the U.S. lost its early 21st century technology battle with China come to be written, a chapter may be devoted to a visit by President Xi Jinping to the Yangtze River.
As if channeling the spirit of an ancient civilization last year, Xi stood atop the Three Gorges dam -- a potent symbol of China's progress -- and proclaimed that when it came to technology China had no choice but to blaze its own trail.
