Greg,
Nearly all of modern societies, ourselves included, have either reverse engineered or copied many things to advance. Were there burdens/costs with the relationship we have with Japan? Of course. I suppose we could have taken other paths with them as we concored them; made Japan a US territory, suppressed their freedoms and economy, isolated Japan, or even anilated every Japanese person. But none of those options are 'the American way' nor wiser paths IMO. Making an ally is always better. Sure it cost. A friend that costs you nothing is just an acquaintance that can't be relied on when the chips are down.
Anyone that thinks continued isolation of China is good is ignoring the obvious; a friend is always better than an enemy. Will it cost us? Sure, big time. Will we benefit? Sure, big time. It may be the thing that heads off the end of humanity on earth from nuclear war. Even Nixon saw that far. So, it may be the best legacy we can leave our children. Isolationist views by us and others fueled the Cold War and nearly cost everyone everything. Hopefully, we're past that.
No, we won't be able to sit on our collective arses and stay ahead of the world based on our father's hard work, we'll have to hoe our own row, as will our children.
