Perception only limited to at best 2 or 3 previous generation is an ignorant perception.
Thats saying why you fail to see the dynamic and potential of china as S&T powerhouse.
Self confidence; and awareness that motivate them to regain that level.
Help to identify the root cause of the fall of her.
Having learned from 2000 yrs of her history of her glory and fall, now they realize that "corruption", "instability" can make them weak and become prey of great power.
Now you see how their government work hard to eradicate corruption, and keep one party to ensure stability, and strengthen her military might to keep her threat away; that thanks to on how they learn from their own 2000 yrs history.
You see now that there is another big country with more than 1 billion people still unable to catch up while china has demonstrated how she catch up with Japan/Europe even USA and very FAST with unprecedented pace, and by seeing her current achievement we should not doubt that not in distant future she will leave them in in the dust.
What other else excuse you want to say now?
Haters will always come up with faulty excuse.