--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because we didn't cooperate with China…" description: "\"Because we didn't cooperate with China, we gave them motivation to develop their own capability. You know, they developed a very capable rocket system,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/leroy-chiao-7059_capability_because-we-didn-t-cooperate-with-china-w_440332.png" --- # Because we didn't cooperate with China, we gave them… ![“Because we didn't cooperate with China, we gave them motivation to develop their own capability. You know, they developed a very capable rocket system, very capable spacecraft. And if we don't cooperate with them in the future, they're going to develop more capable systems. If we're working…” quote by Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/leroy-chiao-7059_capability_because-we-didn-t-cooperate-with-china-w_440332.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/leroy-chiao-7059_capability_because-we-didn-t-cooperate-with-china-w_440332.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/leroy-chiao-7059_capability_because-we-didn-t-cooperate-with-china-w_440332.png) > “Because we didn't cooperate with China, we gave them motivation to develop their own capability. You know, they developed a very capable rocket system, very capable spacecraft. And if we don't cooperate with them in the future, they're going to develop more capable systems. If we're working together on a highly visible project, there is going to be much less, or there is going to be motivation for each country to not get into a conflict or any kind of tension in the military sense.” [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that collaboration reduces competition and conflict, while lack of cooperation spurs independent advancement. **In simple terms:** Cooperation lowers conflict risk. Key Takeaway Promote joint projects. Themes diplomacy technology security Mood strategic thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - space missions - defense research - global policy - industry alliances Key Concepts strategic partnership military tension innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can nations balance competition and collaboration? - What incentives encourage shared technological development? A Different Perspective Cooperation may be limited by political realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) ## Related quotes > [Japan needs to cooperate with China economically. This is understood better by the business community than the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadako-ogata/japan-needs-to-cooperate-with-china-economically-this-is-understood/) [Sadako Ogata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadako-ogata/) > [U.S. security is enhanced when we cooperate with China on challenges from North Korea to Iran to South Sudan. Our trade relationship strengthens our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/u-s-security-is-enhanced-when-we-cooperate-with-china-on-challenges/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [Bipartisanship helps to avoid extremes and imbalances. It causes compromises and accommodations. So let's cooperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/bipartisanship-helps-to-avoid-extremes-and-imbalances-it-causes/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Whatever I fight weakens me. Whatever I cooperate with strengthens me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/whatever-i-fight-weakens-me-whatever-i-cooperate-with-strengthens-me/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Everyone in our administration is going to cooperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plouffe/everyone-in-our-administration-is-going-to-cooperate/) [David Plouffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plouffe/) > [Facilities, property and cooperate together, success is easier,But do not prepare yourself / So in spite of all that man fails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/facilities-property-and-cooperate-together-success-is-easier-but-do/) Mak\_786 > [I like being 35, I like having a bit of money to spend on music and useless gadgets. The net is providing new ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wilson/i-like-being-35-i-like-having-a-bit-of-money-to-spend-on-music-and/) [Malcolm Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wilson/) > [You can't cooperate by knocking something about or bossing it or forcing it to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/you-can-t-cooperate-by-knocking-something-about-or-bossing-it-or/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [“I never understood the Prisoner's Dilemma until this day. Do you cooperate when you really do want the highest payoff? When it doesn't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-never-understood-the-prisoner-s-dilemma-until-this-day-do-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Leaders don’t give excessive vocal orders. They humbly involve people and together cooperate with them to make a change happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-don-t-give-excessive-vocal-orders-they-humbly-involve-people/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [No organization should be allowed near disaster unless they are willing to cooperate with some level of established leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/no-organization-should-be-allowed-near-disaster-unless-they-are/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [We are ready to cooperate in any way to achieve stability in Syria, of course taking into consideration the interest of the country, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-are-ready-to-cooperate-in-any-way-to-achieve-stability-in-syria-of/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I'm often at odds with my colleagues, but I've managed to get legislation passed which will not even be attempted in other states. Rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-chambers/i-m-often-at-odds-with-my-colleagues-but-i-ve-managed-to-get/) [Ernie Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-chambers/) > [People do not cooperate under the division of labor because they love or should love one another. They cooperate because this best serves their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/people-do-not-cooperate-under-the-division-of-labor-because-they-love/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## More by Leroy Chiao > [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I'm skeptical of claims that we've been visited by aliens from another planet or other dimension, but I don't rule it out 100 percent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-m-skeptical-of-claims-that-we-ve-been-visited-by-aliens-from/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [On the mission I brought a flag from China, I brought the stone sculpture from Hong Kong, and I brought a scroll from Taiwan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/on-the-mission-i-brought-a-flag-from-china-i-brought-the-stone/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [One day, people will be able to buy tickets to visit space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/one-day-people-will-be-able-to-buy-tickets-to-visit-space/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I think it's good to have competition. Now we have a third country that can launch astronauts, so it's good for all of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-think-it-s-good-to-have-competition-now-we-have-a-third-country/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I remember getting advice like, "Oh, do what interests you. Don't worry about tomorrow, live for today," kind of thing. And to a degree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-remember-getting-advice-like-oh-do-what-interests-you-don-t-worry/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [When Russians were having troubles, the Space Shuttle supported the Space Station Mir bringing up much needed supplies and replacements, critical spares, really. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/when-russians-were-having-troubles-the-space-shuttle-supported-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-how-to-do-in-order-to-keep/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [We were trying to do as much science as we could because that was the main purpose of the international space station. But without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/we-were-trying-to-do-as-much-science-as-we-could-because-that-was-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The space station mission was kind of the culmination of all of my experience of being a NASA Astronaut, so it had brought all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-space-station-mission-was-kind-of-the-culmination-of-all-of-my/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The expense of getting into space is the rocket launch, the rocket itself. Rocket's right now, commercial rockets cost probably somewhere between $50, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-expense-of-getting-into-space-is-the-rocket-launch-the-rocket/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [If we're not able to launch our own people and operate our own spacecraft anymore then, you know, space - whether it should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-we-re-not-able-to-launch-our-own-people-and-operate-our-own/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [When I was at NASA, I had a house on a small private airstrip that we shared between the flying community. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/when-i-was-at-nasa-i-had-a-house-on-a-small-private-airstrip-that-we/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Donald Trump's administration is floating a proposal to return to the moon - and to shut down the International Space Station to help pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/donald-trump-s-administration-is-floating-a-proposal-to-return-to-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [In a big picture sense, it's more national prestige that we're risking. You know, we are proud of our space program, but as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/in-a-big-picture-sense-it-s-more-national-prestige-that-we-re-risking/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) [Explore all 95 Leroy Chiao quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) ## More Capability quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/few-men-realize-that-their-life-the-very-essence-of-their-character/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [One of the capabilities, which seems to be the most difficult for aspiring leaders to maste is realistic optimism. It requires one to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/one-of-the-capabilities-which-seems-to-be-the-most-difficult-for/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [You have the capability to change your life all with a simple shift in perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-have-the-capability-to-change-your-life-all-with-a-simple-shift/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [If you are facing a new challenge or being asked to do something that you have never done before don’t be afraid to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-are-facing-a-new-challenge-or-being-asked-to-do-something-that/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Clearly, if wed had the kind of computer graphics capability then that we have now, the Star Gate sequence would be much more complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/clearly-if-wed-had-the-kind-of-computer-graphics-capability-then-that/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm just confident in myself and my capability to be able to play this position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-m-just-confident-in-myself-and-my-capability-to-be-able-to-play/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I have proved my capability to everyone - my fans and critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/i-have-proved-my-capability-to-everyone-my-fans-and-critics/) [Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/) > [I will then ask for a plan to immediately protect those vulnerabilities and then fix them.At the same time, we will invest heavily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-then-ask-for-a-plan-to-immediately-protect-those/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I've seen people recover physical abilities, yet never get over emotional trauma after a serious accident. I've seen other people overcome the psychological and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/i-ve-seen-people-recover-physical-abilities-yet-never-get-over/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) Browse all 801 Capability quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because we didn't cooperate with China, we gave them motivation to develop their own capability. You know, they developed a very capable rocket system, very capable spacecraft. And if we don't cooperate with them in the future, they're going to develop more capable systems. 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