That's an interesting story about the Prof. It reflects the degree to which China was not considered a technological threat in 2003 - I would assume that, today, one's NDA would proscribe running off to be a professor at a Chinese technical university. From the same era...
https://www.cfmaeroengines.com/press...able-in-china/
We'll see how the story unfolds, but given his RR role in "technology acquisition" one wonders whether the US may have raised the alarm concerning the UK's compilation and curation of their data. (Remember RR was on the GE F136 program, not the F135.)
I'm actually sceptical about China's ability to emulate Western engine technology (one area where developments have lagged predictions).