Its not even that long ago that the western powers + Japan attempted to carve up China. 2 centuries lost to Manchu ineptitude and decadence. Nian rebellion, Taiping rebellion, 2 Opium wars, Empress dowager bitch, boxer rebellion unequal treaty after unequal treaty...
Add Japanese murderous aggression 1915 - 1945, civil war 1945 - 1949, war against the entire U.N 1950s, failed economic policies and uncontrolled revolutionary zeal up to 1978, famine, war with the USSR, Sanctions....
What Civilization can withstand all that and still come back fighting?
Only Chinese.
Any other peoples would have collapsed to dust.