Average mfg. wages in China are still short of Mexico, and US salaries include all sorts of overhead, especially healthcare.
"Skilled assembly line workers cost more in South China than in cheaper US states." - for some things, not for most things.
"Amazons, Googles, Facebooks still keep pouring into China like there is no tomorrow." - Yes, and?
Without 'cheap labour' China would not exist, even today, the economic machine depends on it.
The surpluses wrought by the American/Western consumer are massive.
Walmart would have 1/2 of the goods, and they would be more expensive.
Americans consume considerably more goods than they would otherwise, and that's a measure of the enormous surplus being created by comparative value trade between the two nations.
The 'anti comparative value' argument made in the article is just hot air and speculation without a lot of data to pack it up.
Adam Smith is as correct as Isaac Newton, you can't just say 'gravity doesn't exist anymore'.
Not a case now.
Skilled assembly line workers cost more in South China than in cheaper US states.
Amazons, Googles, Facebooks still keep pouring into China like there is no tomorrow.
I think a little of critical thinking will point to problem not being with the cost of labour.
Thought, the initial US MNCs push into China was definitely motivated by the borderline free workers.