Polluting but ahead in green tech. Were already ahead before, then under Trump got farther ahead. That's why we've a more aggressive approach now, to catch up. In response, China is literally instituting blackouts.
Need monopolies with future key tech sectors like green tech (at the least prevent China from having the monopoly) like we do with some present ones.
They've over 4x the population, means to overtake us their per capita GDP only needs to reach quarter of ours which is inevitable. Only way of preventing overtake are via innovation and military reach/influence (which also has to do with tech/innovation).