Operating under the assumption this isnt already a priority to them, which I would say is a big assumption.
You're looking at this as if it was in absence of the rest of the trade footings of the two countries.
The west is building stuff in this industry - semi conductors. The east is operating heavy industrial espionage to try and steal all the secrets of it so they can take it from the west.
I'm not sure why you think this trade war situation is indicative of the US not making things - its exactly a heavily US industry where China steals technology to leapfrog actual competition.
If China steals all your research you're going to have trouble affording coffee beans. If they steal your research and then open factories up you're going broke.
So the importance of producing is true, but its tied to the importance of protecting your advantages, national and otherwise.