Definitely a lot of this. But I'd add that the business environment/cultural expectations(non govt) also weigh heavy. The whole concept of "saving face" is something we simply don't have here. The US specifically is a lot more of help me out or get out of my way, when it comes to innovation and growth. In China you're not really supposed to one-up your boss or anyone senior to you. So while you may be the 26 year old engineer with a great idea, you'll squash it most likely because you can't overstep your bounds. You will have shown up your boss and he/she won't have that. Healthy companies in the US embrace innovation and improvement on processes. People are rewarded for it, including superiors who are able to recognize talent and bring them along to exploit it. In China it's all about knowing your role and staying in your lane.