> Xi also overreached by challenging the US too soon rather than bide his time and wait another couple of decades by which point China could have weaned itself from dependence on the US for tech like semiconductor fabrication and been much less vulnerable.

Yes but he wouldn’t be alive by then. It also helped unite his citizens to a common enemy to ensure he had continuing support while he selectively purged powerful party members that wasn’t on his side. I am sure he weighted the consequences and determined China was economically powerful enough for a long fight.