A lot of steps are being taken to "stay ahead" though. Consider something like the CHIPS act, I actually got offered a research grant for the summer from it. This is the first time I felt such direct influence and urgency from the politicians
We need more financial incentives, more trade restrictions, harder and heavier diplomacy, and indeed even exercising our military might where necessary if we want to stay the preeminent superpower and continue Pax Americana.
China is a very motivated and ambitious country, they have every reason to kick the US and by extension the west off the pedestal. We are at the point we can't just sit and go "Made In China means Crap" anymore, we need to take them seriously and act like it or we will lose our era.
[1]: https://slashdot.org/story/24/05/27/1327206/china-sets-up-th...