I don't know if you're baiting for a conspiracy, but I'd go as far as to say top level politics are to blame in both countries, albeit more directly in the case of China.
China overbuilds way too much, even in thriving cities like Shanghai and Beijing will you find almost completely deserted shopping malls.
>>I only observed...
You didn't ONLY observe, you observed and then asked a question, and then the question was answered:
r0h1n>>"I'd be more interested in why two such different countries as the US and China seem to have independently arrived at the same problem"
Seanmcdirmind asked you if your question was genuine, you responded that it was, then he answered your question. There is no conflict here.