Good observations. That is how things look today, but things will change and perceptions will change accordingly.
Japanese as an island nation had the luck to avoid foreign subjugation. Even the Yuan Mongol (together with Koreans) armada's failed to subjugate them, because of two typhoons, which they call Divine Wind or Kami Kaze in Japanese. Unfortunately the Kami Kaze pilots failed to save them from defeat in WW II.
On the other hand, China have been in flux for thousands of years, more recently they were subjugated by Mongols (Yuan) and later by a confederation of Manchu-Mongols (Qing). Manchu's and their ancestor Jurchens are neighbors and have old relations with Koreans. Only in 1912, after the fall of Manchu Qing, Han Chinese finally threw off "foreign" subjugation, but got embroiled in their own civil war between Nationalists and Communists. Mao killed off a large number of the bourgeois intelligentsia elite, I am guessing the mixed blood former aristocrats, during the "Cultural Revolution" idiocy. The new elite is just in the formation stage, so it will take a few more generations to mature.
Your observation due to the difference in performance is due to the above disruptions in Historical Continuity. One more example, why Historical Continuity and preventing foreign subjugation is so essential to any group of human beings.
The 500 year figure is the total duration that starts with renaissance and European era of colonization of distant parts of the planet. I did not mean to say that all countries were under Western influence for all 500 years.
Have you checked your inbox?
The 500 years figure for the West is dubious, but I understand that you live in the West, so won't argue that much on this issue.
As for the rest of the arguments, I mostly agree. So, we can not rely on the immature Chinese leadership to forge alliances or build unbreakable partnerships - that is, they may sell any partner off if they find it beneficial.
Societies like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau or Singapore may have high income and development levels, yet they know they have to be subservient to the West. Although these countries' citizens are generally better educated, they can not think independently. Whereas, the Chinese in Mainland China for the most part have never engaged in independent thought because their government never allows it, and for them, America is still some sort of a "holy grail". They still need to send students to America in large numbers.
So, I think closer win-win relationships with Russia, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand to our East (mostly), and other Muslim majority countries to our West is needed. Chinese will also be a crucial partner, but due to their unreliability in times of crises (e.g. congratulating BAL promptly after the West installed them, and yet BAL's media like "71 TV" and others pander to Hindustani and American interests, while calling Pakistanis "hyenas" and the Chinese as "enemies of Bangladesh in 1971" (or something like that)) is proof that they have a long way to go. Their media report immediately after Shapla Chottor (Water lily square) massacre by BAL-Hindustani-RAW-RAB-Hindutva extremist nexus merely copy-pasted BAL's press release, so to speak.
A reinvigorated Japan is far better for the Muslims, because Japan has had almost no clash with Muslims even at the height of anti-Muslim paranoia created by the West and even when Japan is "virtually" occupied by the West. Whereas, China still has issues with East Turkestan/Xinjiang and its rotten communist ideology of not allowing all Islamic practices free rein.
An awakened Japan, with Bangladesh and some ASEAN countries, maybe Korea, as junior partners (let's be realistic, we can't expect to be equal partners to an ultranationalistic Japan in a Japanese-led alliance) will do great wonders to all sides. Cheap labour, young populations, briskly growing consumer markets and industrial capabilities in Bangladesh+most ASEAN (leave Singapore out of it, because we can also use Singapore as a "bargaining chip" with the Chinese if they get a little too uppity; don't forget, that we need to treat Singapore the same way that we need to treat Hindustan, other wise countries like Malaysia and Indonesia may not join in our expeditions eagerly) can act as Japan's "hinterland", and we can rapidly develop our scientific, civilian and military technological capabilities by leaps and bounds).
For example, some low IQ country is creating a ruckus because they
purchased some MPA (Martime Patrol Aircraft) from a Western country, while Japan recently inducted its indigenous, domestic XP-1 MPA aircraft powered by its own domestic (IHI) engines, armed with domestic AShM (anti Ship missiles), guided by AESA radars developed by TRDI (I think) and controlled by novel "fly by light" system.
In simpler words, the potential is immense if Japan assumes a "normal" military position, again.
Edit: I must add, that individual Western European countries like France, Germany, Sweden or Britain are capable of producing some very useful and handy technology for the civilian and military industries, but we MUST always deal with them bilaterally, or ensure that our 'alliance' acts as one during the negotiations period.
The problem with USA is that it's not likely to transfer any civilian or military technology merely for short term commercial reasons without extracting any geopolitical advantage, and it's way too large (GDP wise) for any single country in our hypothetical alliance to negotiate on a bilateral basis.
So, distant relationships with the Americans, closer with Western Europeans, even closer with the Chinese, but the closest with our long term potential and stable allies. We can not just dream of alliances on the internet, or hope that any impassioned politicians' speech or a few articles in newspapers will change things.
Greater people to people exchanges selected intelligently is the way to go about it.
