Also: since 90s, the massive outsourcing phenomena, particular in high-tech microelectronics and in mid-tech electronics, gave them a critical, unparallel boost.
The outsourcing is always accompanied with technology&process transfer, manufacturing equipment transfer, training, etc., etc., etc. Giving them for free all these years of R&D, fruits of product development effort, means & tools, basic ability to function, etc – the list is endless.
Bernie Schwartz