I agree with this at this point in time. However, this trend is unpredictable as ethnic/race nationalism is on the rise across the globe (US included).
It will work but will slow down China, add unnecessary baggage like political show on every election period. Underestimate? Well I'm sorry not everyone's got a degree in political science, economics, engineering...
Well it happened on a land known as China today, therefore it's part of Chinese history. The caste system was imposed by the invaders, does not reflect reality one bit.
It's not so much as to what the wakeup call is, I know it's tragic but I'll rather live the reality than live in a dream eventhough I know I'll have to bear the pain to live in the reality. That's just me.
I don't know whether something else, perhaps less inhumane, could have been the 'wakeup...
The former approach is the better of the two.
The way I see it is, in almost every negative, there's a positive. In this case, it was a much needed wakeup call to Middle Kingdom that it is no longer the centre of the world. Only by recognising this will it advance again.
I think the intake is behind and around the propeller cone.
If the engine is the same, have a look at this one
http://www.airliners.net/photo/China---Air/Shaanxi-Y-8-KJ200/1591884/L/