Just as I should not underestimate India you should not underestimate China.
I did not.
I think you should address me instead of you people.
Actually it goes for all those who keep harping about external similar, internal different. Malarkey.
China may have learned from the Soviet or maybe not. You are simply making guesses here. Independent propulsion is as a large a difference between a rocket launcher and a grenade. As for the rest it is completely irrelevant to the topic.
If you
understood the evolution of China's space program you would have understood why I used that example.
Read this:
Soyuz Orbital Module
Shenzhou Orbital Module
The difference between the two orbital modules and the probable reasons why an independent propulsion system was added to the Shenzhou model. Bottom line, similar design, similar functions but slight improvements. Again not on a monumental scale, meaning no big deal.
Thats the point. There is no suggestion of a similar genealogy between the Soyuz and the Shenzhou besides the un-unique shape. What else do you expect a capsule to look like, a cube? As for components Soviet was not involved. Your hypothetical insinuations are worthless.
As you have said you are not an expert. How is China not independent in the space sector? What does it have to import? The last foreign component used in a Chinese ballistic missile was the R2 assembled in the 1960.
Completely irrelevant. There is no connection to the Chinese space program from this. Do you have anything else besides insinuations?
A cube could do just fine, given the sparse atmosphere at that altitude and lack of any drag! The "eerie" similarity between the two spacecraft designs does suggest, either collaboration or contribution, one way or the other, by Russian scientists.
Whoever said that components have to be produced inhouse to be considered indigenous? So what if China manufactures all the components in house. Nothing new here. But the design, the minds behind the design came from Russia. Thats for sure - there are reports of Russian scientists defecting to different countries, China included, for better pay during the upheavel of the 90's. Some among those who did not defect could be bought for the right price. So could sensitive technologies. Everybody whetted their appetites in the free for all till Putin put a stop to it!
Hence there is a strong correlation between the events of the tumultuous Russia of the 90's and sudden spurt in Russian based technological prowess of certain countries during that time.
Facts are facts. Ignore them if you must.
Exactly.