It's true whether or not anybody says it. If nobody criticized China, all those problem would still be there. Except people in the US wouldn't be so confident of their superiority. I think that would get them worried into action, like they got worried into the space race by Sputnik as the article mentioned.

It is a matter of opinion - public opinion - which is what ultimately drives how the FDA works. If the US public is clamoring for them to get their ass into gear, eventually they will.