This might be a key factor in the drastic rise. China is annually graduating about 8 times as many STEM degree holders as the US, as of 2016:
"...In 2013, 40 percent of Chinese graduates finished a degree in STEM, over twice the share in American third level institutions."
"The World Economic Forum reported that China had 4.7 million recent STEM graduates in 2016. India, another academic powerhouse, had 2.6 million new STEM graduates last year while the U.S. had 568,000."
This might be a key factor in the drastic rise. China is annually graduating about 8 times as many STEM degree holders as the US, as of 2016:
"...In 2013, 40 percent of Chinese graduates finished a degree in STEM, over twice the share in American third level institutions."
"The World Economic Forum reported that China had 4.7 million recent STEM graduates in 2016. India, another academic powerhouse, had 2.6 million new STEM graduates last year while the U.S. had 568,000."
Source: The Countries With The Most STEM Graduates [Infographic] https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/02/02/the-co...