One example of this concern stopping research in 2002, but there were some in the late 90s too iirc: https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v420/n6912/full/420116...
CRISPR is a gigantic leap forward in simplifying and expediting gene editing across the board. It has also significantly reduced the cost. The tools, such as SHERLOCK from Broad, that are already cropping up around CRISPR are well beyond what was previously possible.
China as one example has found it so easy and inexpensive to work with, they're likely to rapidly leap ahead of the West in gene editing due to their willingness to allow for higher rates of risk. They'll have perhaps dozens of human trials under way by the end of 2017 / mid 2018. Just on the back of CRISPR they're going to go from lagging far behind in biotech, to being a global leader within two decades. Technologically they're going to skip the decades of traditional pharma / biotech build-up, as with jumping to cellphones and bypassing landlines.
You're making this sound more harmless than it is. I'd rather say "due to their willingness to reject and destroy all previously common-held ethical boundaries of science".
Then, some years down the line, we'll make use of the benefits of whatever technology the Chinese develop. It would be evil not to, given how it could spare people the suffering of genetic diseases, or create carbon-capturing crops, or whatever.
Why exactly do you want to invade China?