An interesting article, but I take issue with the the opinion that "3D printing and robotics promises to change some of this, as companies can utilize industrial scale 3D printers and automation to manufacture parts for their products, cheaper than even the labor force in China can produce them. That’s if, of course China lags behind in their adoption of these technologies."
Even if China doesn't "lag behind" in the adoption of 3D printing, it will only be an advantage to them if they are significantly ahead. If you have similar-capacity 3D printers with similar operational costs in China and the US, US companies producing for the domestic market will still prefer to use the US ones to take advantage of the shorter supply chain. Chinese companies will prefer to use Chinese printers for the same reason.
Even if China doesn't "lag behind" in the adoption of 3D printing, it will only be an advantage to them if they are significantly ahead. If you have similar-capacity 3D printers with similar operational costs in China and the US, US companies producing for the domestic market will still prefer to use the US ones to take advantage of the shorter supply chain. Chinese companies will prefer to use Chinese printers for the same reason.