30 years ago it was the Japanese learning from imitation and using hardworking lowly paid help to kick economic butt, then Korea and Taiwan, now its China and southeast Asia. Eventually they'll succumb to the rewards of capitalism well done (wealth) too. Hopefully before we (the U.S.) is beaten up too badly.
In the last century science has come from the West, but technology has come mostly from the East. The West invented the car, radio, TV, etc. but its the East that eventually perfected what consumers want with high quality and low price.