It's a LOT easier and cheaper coming along later- they didn't have to invent advanced materials, computers, CMOS chips, and so on, just select them. Their launch vehicles for satellites are now comparable in quality and performance to Ariane and similar US vehicles (Atlas?) according to what I've read.
It's a really big deal here in China (where I happen to be until later this afternoon, in a sprawling border city called Shenzhen). Photos (John Glenn-like) of Yang with his space suit on etc. etc. This was only the 5th launch of this spacecraft design, compared to many, many failures that occured in the US and Russian space program early on (mostly involving just the unmanned vehicle blowing up). Not sure I like Yang much, he's got a really booming voice and seems a bit too full of fervor for the glory of it all, but he had the balls to get up there and do it.
What will be the official language of the first Martian colony?
Best regards, Spehro Pefhany