We've still accomplished a lot in terms of space exploration in that 10 years. Maybe less than we should have, but we're making strides.
It is sad that we spend so much time and money even to this day developing newer better ways to kill ourselves that suck precious resources away from all the inevitable technologies that can save us from ourselves.
And the sad thing is that I doubt you can find one average family in China who thinks a missile capable of destroying an aircraft carrier is a better investment than a cleaner source of energy than coal. Or one average family here who would rather fund a new type of stealth bomber than a cure for cancer.
If you do it's only because they're afraid. Not afraid of that other family but afraid of that other military that they never wanted to fight.