RE: regard for human life...
Both the US and Russia showed scant regard for human life, in their race to be the first in space. But China isn't going after the "first" award; they're going after the "best" award. If they take their time, and get everything right, then they just might get it. If China continues to advance their human space technology at the methodical rate that they have for the last decade, then they'll be on the Moon and Mars long before we will... a classic case of tortise and hare syndrome. :-)
Cheers,
Nathan.