This is how modern "competition" works in every industry. China is just following the standard model of taking losses in order to monopolize the market. Why do you think so many companies in the US (Uber being the most obvious one) are just taking losses for years and years?

I feel like people don't understand modern economics and the complete lack of competition. So when our media says "China is bad. Look at them cheating!" people believe it.

China isn't cheating or "going to crumble because of this" like all the YouTube click bait videos say. This is literally just how the global markets work.

Is it good? Fuck no. But it's not unique to China at all. And their 5 year planned economic systems are much more prepared for a global collapse than ours are. At least in meeting the material needs of its citizens. The US has all but gutted any of its social safetynets for when this all goes to hell.

Nobody subsidizes on the same scale as what China is doing. Nobody operates entire market sectors at a loss for strategic advantage. The reason why China is doing this is because they're comfortably in the lead among world powers and can afford to lose a bit, and also: everything is a weapon in their eyes, and they're determined to use their weapons on everyone else.

EDIT: Although I do admit the Oil Industry is pretty equally cutthroat, Saudis weaponize crude and Russia weaponizes Natural Gas.