Economically, there is a fundamental difference between finite, rent-generating resources like land, and value-added goods like Chinese trinkets or international students.
Exporting value-added goods builds the economy. Exporting rent-collecting resources results in significant long-term harm to the economy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_account
Just like a business, a country can maintain short term losses by accepting outside investment, or debt. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Almost all companies take on debt and investment to fund their growth.
Also, just like a business, you can’t do this forever. At some point the debt comes due, and/or you end up selling the whole business.
Outside investment in businesses is not a bad thing. Outside investment in land is.
American policy makers have chosen policies (eg zoning law) that make it easy to produce valuable urban residences. Now they have a massive competitive advantage in high-end residences, so of course they will become exporters.
“Capable of growth” and “not finite” are not the same thing.
> there is a fundamental difference between finite, rent-generating resources like land, and value-added goods