The Danger of Chinese Arrogance

[Bussard Ramjet]

There was a time not long back when China was truly in many ways the center of the world. The Chinese Empire had close to a quarter of the global population and a third of its wealth. And most strikingly that excluded vassal states and kingdoms like Korea and Vietnam, which were at that point of time totally, completely and exclusively linked to China. It was understandable hence, that the Chinese Emperor and Empresses, didn't foresee a time when this fundamental reality can all but be totally altered. This state of mind naturally led to a supreme confidence of well-being and prosperity, with officials totally mindless of the condition of the outside world, simply missed the great things about to begin in a totally remote, "barbarian" part of the world, which would come to permanently alter the landscape of the whole world.

The Industrial revolution, with accompanying wonders of mass production and demand of resources, led to the active exploration of resources and colonies all around the world. Even when this fundamental colonial structure was undone in many parts of the world, it left deep and profound legacies like the western domination of 4 continents, by total domination and subjugation of original inhabitants, --- Australia, Siberia and the 2 Americas. It left a world order where the rules of the international system were already written to the advantage of those western powers, not to mention the first-mover advantage that they already had. Australia is a very curious case and end-result of this transformation. It is a country which was literally settled by prisoners who were exiled, who ended up colonizing perhaps the most mineral-rich continent in the world, and till today sit on those laurels. (80-90% of all Australian exports are composed of minerals, and raw materials, which it uses to live by and subsidize all other pursuits)

For China, all this started by the simple arrogance, and bland disregard for any opposing, challenging views on governance, trade or function. Officials, still selected by the centuries old examination of Confucian thought and literature, were all but inept at any modern tasks of governance. At the same time, they were patently corrupt, with zero desire to reform the system. Midway during the Industrial Revolution, when there were proposals to reform the system and economy on the lines of European countries to start its own industrialization -- somewhat like what Meiji did in Japan -- the court officials rejected the idea blatantly and completely. The primary motive seemed to be the preservation of their own "Mandarin power", the power vested in the Mandarins of the empire. Any person asking for reform was termed a traitor to the divine kingdom -- the Central State -- and to the heavenly and celestial emperor of the Kingdom.

Our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product within its borders. There is therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce.

— Qianlong Emperor, Second Edict to King George III of England, 1792
​

There are worrying trends in the present Chinese system, that present an image of further entrenchment of vested interests of the modern day Mandarins in the system. Shadowed by the glorious achievements of the last 3 decades, which no country has been able to keep up with, let alone compete, the benefactors of system are getting increasingly intolerant of any criticism. They are also getting arrogant. Almost any Chinese person within the system that wants to do anything, is labelled "western sympathizer" and a disgrace to the "Chinese People." Political reform and evolution has been put on total hold. The system has become extremely intolerant towards diverse views.

(This post is not complete. I just got tired. I have to do more to prove myself and my hypothesis. I will keep updating this post. Meanwhile I will appreciate any comments and discussions.)

 

[Gufi]

There are many errors in this article

Midway during the Industrial Revolution, when there were proposals to reform the system and economy on the lines of European countries to start its own industrialization -- somewhat like what Meiji did in Japan

First of all the surmise of this statement is that China is repeating its mistakes. There needs to be a greater understanding at what is really going on in China right now

1. Industrial innovations are being promoted
2. economy is being reformed to suit a stable albeit slower growth
3. there is a strong anti corruption movement which the people are encouraged to take part in
4. the Chinese party understands the greatest threat right now is stemming from mismanagement rather then outside threats
5. There is a push to move towards stronger judiciary and accounting system

Study China closer friend this is very superficial in itself.
@Chinese-Dragon @Yizhi please read this article and provide your view point also

 

[55100864]

You can't find a country that more humble than China, we have been kept low profile for decades, we do everything quietly, now China is just starting to yawn and stretch, and everyone starts shouting like"OMG the warmongering Chinese imperialism are planning to colonize the world."

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

You can't find a country that more humble than China, we have been kept low profile for decades, we do everything quietly, now China is just starting to yawn and stretch, and everyone starts shouting like"OMG the warmongering Chinese imperialism are planning to colonizing the world."

There was a time when that was true, but increasingly Chinese Government and officials are getting arrogant and close minded to new ideas and rational debate, especially after the aftermath of the world financial crisis.

 

[Yizhi]

......'why it's the West, not China, who started industrialization?' this is a billion-dollar question that baffled generations of historians till today. i appreciate your effort to study Chinese history. however, this is a very very deep subject that Chinese ourselves dare not to say we have a solid grasp of everything.

There are worrying trends in the present Chinese system, that present an image of further entrenchment of vested interests of the modern day Mandarins in the system. Shadowed by the glorious achievements of the last 3 decades, which no country has been able to keep up with, let alone compete, the benefactors of system are getting increasingly intolerant of any criticism. They are also getting arrogant. Almost any Chinese person within the system that wants to do anything, is labelled "western sympathizer" and a disgrace to the "Chinese People." Political reform and evolution has been put on total hold. The system has become extremely intolerant towards diverse views.

CCP encourages internal debate. just because you don't read Chinese or you don't bother yourself with 'CCP propaganda' does not mean the debates don't exist. they had absolutely no interest in translating those party studies or reports into English which made it difficult to observe from outside China. in fact the views were once so diverse that we had a problem of forming consensus. Xi is popular now among Chinese precisely because he sets the key-tone as keep the reforms going both economically and politically, and he is implementing it in really hardcore fashion.

besides, be specific when you talk about political reform and evolution. China is maturing but not 'Westernizing', which can be easily misunderstood as 'no reforms' from the Western point of view.

 

[55100864]

There was a time when that was true, but increasingly Chinese Government and officials are getting arrogant and close minded to new ideas and rational debate, especially after the aftermath of the world financial crisis.

Well, i don't know what makes you think china is getting arrogant and close minded, maybe because the whole SCS stuff? i see we have became more open and pragmatic. The world financial crisis offered a good opportunity for China to stop 'taking free ride of US' as said by Obama, and start to build it's own car, we even welcome others to 'take free ride' of china, sure we became more assertive because we have to, but not arrogant and close minded. If China is to be considered arrogant, what about US? and the old European which have been literally sleeping with China on many fields while still shouting human right, Tibet, HK bullshit?

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

The Chinese government for the past 3 decades have absorbed from the West as much as possible and applying a Chinese spin/implementation. The days of insular focus are gone.

Chinese arrogance can become a problem circa 2080 but for now, China is still in the learning phase. The Meiji reformers realized very early on that the average Japanese can do anything the West can, education was key.

Chinese today realize that they can do anything the West can, but sets their sights on eclipsing Western dominance. It is not arrogance, merely ending the aberration of Chinese history where the country is not no. 1 in the world.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Lets get down to some basic facts here first and then we can expound on the reasons here and everything:

1. China was at a height during the reign of Qianlong Emperor.
2. The people living under chinese reign composed of 1/4 of the global population and 1/3 of its GDP.
3. During the Qianlong Emperor, China (as far as I know) had more monetary reserves (at that time gold and silver) than the rest of the world combined.
4. China had vassal relationship with Korea and other states, with exclusive relations. The above figures don't include this.
5. China missed the industrial revolution
6. Today, share of population of China in global population has come down from 30% at one time, to under 19%.
7. Though the GDP share of China has risen to approximately 13%, it is nowhere near 35% that it once enjoyed.
8. It finds itself strategically isolated in the world. (Yes, having Pakistan and North Korea, the latter a shit hole on earth, and former a sovereign country with questionable administration and exercise of sovereignty over their own land, doesn't count. For all, it is just credibility beater.)
9. China has been infiltrated psychologically so much that instead of assimilating more people, it is finding hard to keep people together which were a part of it for thousands of years. Dissent is happening within its core territory of Tibet, HK and Taiwan.
10. China has not been able to make reapproachment with any of the countries that were its extended territory initially.
11. China still lags way behind in Hard Core technology, research and development. China is behind countries like Germany (even switzerland in some areas)in the impact its work has on science
12. Chinese culture and soft power is non-existent. Rather it can be considered negative.

Please forgive me for being so direct, even provocative, but I'm being frank and honest.

 

[Yizhi]

Lets get down to some basic facts here first and then we can expound on the reasons here and everything:

1. China was at a height during the reign of Qianlong Emperor.
2. The people living under chinese reign composed of 1/4 of the global population and 1/3 of its GDP.
3. During the Qianlong Emperor, China (as far as I know) had more monetary reserves (at that time gold and silver) than the rest of the world combined.
4. China had vassal relationship with Korea and other states, with exclusive relations. The above figures don't include this.
5. China missed the industrial revolution
6. Today, share of population of China in global population has come down from 30% at one time, to under 19%.
7. Though the GDP share of China has risen to approximately 13%, it is nowhere near 35% that it once enjoyed.
8. It finds itself strategically isolated in the world. (Yes, having Pakistan and North Korea, the latter a shit hole on earth, and former a sovereign country with questionable administration and exercise of sovereignty over their own land, doesn't count. For all, it is just credibility beater.)
9. China has been infiltrated psychologically so much that instead of assimilating more people, it is finding hard to keep people together which were a part of it for thousands of years. Dissent is happening within its core territory of Tibet, HK and Taiwan.
10. China has not been able to make reapproachment with any of the countries that were its extended territory initially.
11. China still lags way behind in Hard Core technology, research and development. China is behind countries like Germany (even switzerland in some areas)in the impact its work has on science
12. Chinese culture and soft power is non-existent. Rather it can be considered negative.

Please forgive me for being so direct, even provocative, but I'm being frank and honest.

i honestly don't get your point. China was strong, then weak, and is now climbing back again, so what's your problem?

8. we are not interested in active ally seeking game like US.
9. Tibet, HK, Taiwan? they are not going anywhere.
10. ??? what r u talking about?
11. improving very fast. much better than India.
12. again, what???!!!

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

The Chinese government for the past 3 decades have absorbed from the West as much as possible and applying a Chinese spin/implementation. The days of insular focus are gone.
Chinese arrogance can become a problem circa 2080 but for now, China is still in the learning phase. The Meiji reformers realized very early on that the average Japanese can do anything the West can, education was key.

Chinese today realize that they can do anything the West can, but sets their sights on eclipsing Western dominance. It is not arrogance, merely ending the aberration of Chinese history where the country is not no. 1 in the world.

But to end that aberration, you need to keep your mind open, and learn from everyone. Especially in areas where you are behind.

The next big realm for progress in China should be in human resources and quality, most of all in culture. China should focus on education, arts, sciences, media, entertainment industry- movies, shows, novels etc.

Remember, Humans at the end of day are extremely emotional creatures. We live on culture. Culture is the best way of promoting your country. Just see manga. There are many friends in my circle who are learning japanese only because they want to read manga. Movies and Arts are the soft things, that have tremendous impact on society and people. They are the things that form human identities.

This is the thing that I am concerned about, that China doesn't give adequate attention to arts, culture and humanities. These are very insidious things, which work in a very involuntary way. A person may never remember a lecture that he has heard for 1 hour, but you can bet he will remember a good movie worth 3 hours. Even in this forum I seldom hear about Chinese soft power, culture and humanities.

You can see the harm of zero culture and soft power from the case of the Soviet Union. Almost all of Europe hates Russia, even the countries which are slavic. Poles, Ukrainians, Estonians all these people (Ukraine is basically russia, with the old russian empire capital based in Kiev) hate Russia. The west is trying to do similar things in China as well, by promoting regionalism etc. And don't laugh, though Chinese identity is much stronger, no one in his wild dream could have imagined that Ukrainians can ever become anti-russian even as close as 20 years back.

Just see this interesting chart.

The question asked in French, to French people at different times is, "Who do they perceive contributed most to bring down Nazis?" Just see how the perception changed in 50 years, all due to soft power and propaganda.

Any person who tries arguing in favor of China (like me) are inadvertently asked, Why does China not allow free Internet? What is it so scared of? Why are certain books banned in China? I am sorry friends but there is no reasonable answer to this question.

Modern day chinese government and officials need modern media and public relations experts, because the chinese officials are so ignorant of soft power issues, that they make basic mistakes. It is Rule 101 of popularity that you DON'T ban something if you don't want people reading it. You rather divert attention. Banning anything makes it only more popular and desirable. Just see the case with the movie "Interview".

Also, please don't use this argument that these things are western. No they are not. These are just modern techniques of propaganda, soft-power which the west stumbled upon first, only because it came to it first. Humans are fundamentally the same in any country, and many similar things work. Just like the steam engine is not "western" but "modern," these rules of soft-power are not "western" but "modern."

The west has used a combination of demographic, cultural, economic, technological, and propaganda warfare to subdue the Soviet Union, after the advent of nukes made military warfare too costly. It is using similar things against China. While China is well hedged on economic front. I seriously doubt its capabilities in cultural, demographic and propaganda.

Just see the case of Russia, though it was gratifying for Russian supporters to see its Crimea action, in any neutral analysis Russia was the biggest loser of such things. It did exactly that it didn't want in the first place -- It pushed Ukraine now completely in the hands of the west. It has successfully got a very hostile state right on its border. I was rather very satisfied with the way Chinese Government dealt with the HK situation, because an armed conflict would have been a PR, and soft-power disaster.

Another case of the power of propaganda:

Around 50% of the people in the United States think that Global Warming is a hoax. This is sole result of the propaganda warfare by big oil companies, and see what they have done. Essentially converting a known scientific fact, to a heavily doubted one.

i honestly don't get your point. China was strong, then weak, and is now climbing back again, so what's your problem?

8. we are not interested in active ally seeking game like US.
9. Tibet, HK, Taiwan? they are not going anywhere.
10. ??? what r u talking about?
11. improving very fast. much better than India.
12. again, what???!!!

First I want to ask you if you have any problem with any of the facts that I have stated. Then we can start discussion on reasons and current performance.

i honestly don't get your point. China was strong, then weak, and is now climbing back again, so what's your problem?

8. we are not interested in active ally seeking game like US.
9. Tibet, HK, Taiwan? they are not going anywhere.
10. ??? what r u talking about?
11. improving very fast. much better than India.
12. again, what???!!!

Since you edited your answer, I was not able to reply earlier.
8. Your interest is not paramount. The Global realities are. Bhutan is a small country that says that it doesn't believe in GDP, and only in GNH (Gross National Happiness), a term made by them. Being interested doesn't make things obsolete, or useless. Also, it is not like China never had allies. During Qing days, and even earlier dynasties, China had a very direct approach of "with us or against us." Kind of like US has today.

9. And I never mentioned that. I only mentioned that there are overwhelming separatist movements, or dissent going in them. Weakening internal security to a great extent.

10. Earlier, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Ryukyus used to be extended spheres of Chinese influence. Many of these places had sole exclusive relations with China.

11. Never talked about India. Improving- Yes! At the rate required to overthrow the west - Not yet!

12. Soft power dude! I will start a separate thread to expound on the total absence of Chinese soft power.

Do you now agree to all these points?

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

But to end that aberration, you need to keep your mind open, and learn from everyone. Especially in areas where you are behind.

The next big realm for progress in China should be in human resources and quality, most of all in culture. China should focus on education, arts, sciences, media, entertainment industry- movies, shows, novels etc.

Remember, Humans at the end of day are extremely emotional creatures. We live on culture. Culture is the best way of promoting your country. Just see manga. There are many friends in my circle who are learning japanese only because they want to read manga. Movies and Arts are the soft things, that have tremendous impact on society and people. They are the things that form human identities.

This is the thing that I am concerned about, that China doesn't give adequate attention to arts, culture and humanities. These are very insidious things, which work in a very involuntary way. A person may never remember a lecture that he has heard for 1 hour, but you can bet he will remember a good movie worth 3 hours. Even in this forum I seldom hear about Chinese soft power, culture and humanities.

You can see the harm of zero culture and soft power from the case of the Soviet Union. Almost all of Europe hates Russia, even the countries which are slavic. Poles, Ukrainians, Estonians all these people (Ukraine is basically russia, with the old russian empire capital based in Kiev) hate Russia. The west is trying to do similar things in China as well, by promoting regionalism etc. And don't laugh, though Chinese identity is much stronger, no one in his wild dream could have imagined that Ukrainians can ever become anti-russian even as close as 20 years back.

Just see this interesting chart.

The question asked in French, to French people at different times is, "Who do they perceive contributed most to bring down Nazis?" Just see how the perception changed in 50 years, all due to soft power and propaganda.

Any person who tries arguing in favor of China (like me) are inadvertently asked, Why does China not allow free Internet? What is it so scared of? Why are certain books banned in China? I am sorry friends but there is no reasonable answer to this question.

Modern day chinese government and officials need modern media and public relations experts, because the chinese officials are so ignorant of soft power issues, that they make basic mistakes. It is Rule 101 of popularity that you DON'T ban something if you don't want people reading it. You rather divert attention. Banning anything makes it only more popular and desirable. Just see the case with the movie "Interview".

Also, please don't use this argument that these things are western. No they are not. These are just modern techniques of propaganda, soft-power which the west stumbled upon first, only because it came to it first. Humans are fundamentally the same in any country, and many similar things work. Just like the steam engine is not "western" but "modern," these rules of soft-power are not "western" but "modern."

The west has used a combination of demographic, cultural, economic, technological, and propaganda warfare to subdue the Soviet Union, after the advent of nukes made military warfare too costly. It is using similar things against China. While China is well hedged on economic front. I seriously doubt its capabilities in cultural, demographic and propaganda.

Just see the case of Russia, though it was gratifying for Russian supporters to see its Crimea action, in any neutral analysis Russia was the biggest loser of such things. It did exactly that it didn't want in the first place -- It pushed Ukraine now completely in the hands of the west. It has successfully got a very hostile state right on its border. I was rather very satisfied with the way Chinese Government dealt with the HK situation, because an armed conflict would have been a PR, and soft-power disaster.

Another case of the power of propaganda:

Around 50% of the people in the United States think that Global Warming is a hoax. This is sole result of the propaganda warfare by big oil companies, and see what they have done. Essentially converting a known scientific fact, to a heavily doubted one.



First I want to ask you if you have any problem with any of the facts that I have stated. Then we can start discussion on reasons and current performance.

Culture is how humanity expresses itself but do take into account that it thrives on wealth. China is still a poor country and its hard to imagine poor people focusing on arts and humanities in favour of business and technical skills. At the moment, Chinese are still living on 'surplus' culture attained from 5000 years of history, the last 200 years of darkness achieved little for Chinese culture.

Once the country has more money, people can start focusing their energy on arts and humanities but for now earning a livelihood and securing a solid financial foundation is top priority. A poor person spending energy on playing a guitar is just a hobo.

One advantage that China has is its 'don't give a shit' attitude. Foreigners can preach their usual litany on the ills of Chinese government but the people just shrug it off. Who cares when there are 1.4 billion Chinese on your side?

 

[bolo]

There was a time not long back when China was truly in many ways the center of the world. The Chinese Empire had close to a quarter of the global population and a third of its wealth. And most strikingly that excluded vassal states and kingdoms like Korea and Vietnam, which were at that point of time totally, completely and exclusively linked to China. It was understandable hence, that the Chinese Emperor and Empresses, didn't foresee a time when this fundamental reality can all but be totally altered. This state of mind naturally led to a supreme confidence of well-being and prosperity, with officials totally mindless of the condition of the outside world, simply missed the great things about to begin in a totally remote, "barbarian" part of the world, which would come to permanently alter the landscape of the whole world.

The Industrial revolution, with accompanying wonders of mass production and demand of resources, led to the active exploration of resources and colonies all around the world. Even when this fundamental colonial structure was undone in many parts of the world, it left deep and profound legacies like the western domination of 4 continents, by total domination and subjugation of original inhabitants, --- Australia, Siberia and the 2 Americas. It left a world order where the rules of the international system were already written to the advantage of those western powers, not to mention the first-mover advantage that they already had. Australia is a very curious case and end-result of this transformation. It is a country which was literally settled by prisoners who were exiled, who ended up colonizing perhaps the most mineral-rich continent in the world, and till today sit on those laurels. (80-90% of all Australian exports are composed of minerals, and raw materials, which it uses to live by and subsidize all other pursuits)

For China, all this started by the simple arrogance, and bland disregard for any opposing, challenging views on governance, trade or function. Officials, still selected by the centuries old examination of Confucian thought and literature, were all but inept at any modern tasks of governance. At the same time, they were patently corrupt, with zero desire to reform the system. Midway during the Industrial Revolution, when there were proposals to reform the system and economy on the lines of European countries to start its own industrialization -- somewhat like what Meiji did in Japan -- the court officials rejected the idea blatantly and completely. The primary motive seemed to be the preservation of their own "Mandarin power", the power vested in the Mandarins of the empire. Any person asking for reform was termed a traitor to the divine kingdom -- the Central State -- and to the heavenly and celestial emperor of the Kingdom.

Our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product within its borders. There is therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce.

— Qianlong Emperor, Second Edict to King George III of England, 1792
​

There are worrying trends in the present Chinese system, that present an image of further entrenchment of vested interests of the modern day Mandarins in the system. Shadowed by the glorious achievements of the last 3 decades, which no country has been able to keep up with, let alone compete, the benefactors of system are getting increasingly intolerant of any criticism. They are also getting arrogant. Almost any Chinese person within the system that wants to do anything, is labelled "western sympathizer" and a disgrace to the "Chinese People." Political reform and evolution has been put on total hold. The system has become extremely intolerant towards diverse views.

(This post is not complete. I just got tired. I have to do more to prove myself and my hypothesis. I will keep updating this post. Meanwhile I will appreciate any comments and discussions.)

Arrogance, big mouth and talking tough is India. Everyone around the world know that.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Culture is how humanity expresses itself but do take into account that it thrives on wealth. China is still a poor country and its hard to imagine poor people focusing on arts and humanities in favour of business and technical skills. At the moment, Chinese are still living on 'surplus' culture attained from 5000 years of history, the last 200 years of darkness achieved little for Chinese culture.

Once the country has more money, people can start focusing their energy on arts and humanities but for now earning a livelihood and securing a solid financial foundation is top priority. A poor person spending energy on playing a guitar is just a hobo.

One advantage that China has is its 'don't give a shit' attitude. Foreigners can preach their usual litany on the ills of Chinese government but the people just shrug it off. Who cares when there are 1.4 billion Chinese on your side?

Here you are wrong.
Yes, china is still poor, but it is still the 2nd largest economy in the world. And culture works in totally different way compared to economics. Let's see one good determinant that is the homegrown movie industry, and mind you, I'm talking about the movie industry and not about movie market.

China's movie industry is pedestal! You can check it anywhere.

The only thing in which India is ahead of China is in soft power base. You see India is like China in many ways, only smaller. We have got huge diversity in languages etc. Initially there were many secessionist movements, but using good political and social tools, and negotiating compromises, we have solved many many problems. The Indian north-east which historically had nothing to do with India, and was in effect a gift by Britishers to India (North-East except Assam is inhabited by mongloid race people) had huge problems, but now a lot of people have successfully assimilated. We have created a vibrant civil society etc.

China is the opposite. If China had done what India had done, It would literally have incorporated the whole of IndoChina, Japan, Korea, Mongolia. But it didn't.

This is the flaw of Chinese system. It doesn't focus on civil society etc. One of the reasons of this is that present Chinese system is the result of a civil war, which in effect hasn't completely ended. Diverse views are not favored in the system. The "modern" system of soft-power (and I emphasize it is modern and not western) requires diversity, and tolerance. When you go against the civil society they act against your interest rather than in your interest. This makes the Chinese government more scared and more repressive.

Also, while the overall satisfaction levels in China are quite high, higher than anywhere in the world, satisfaction levels do not equal acceptance. There are scores of Chinese who want more open society, rule of law, independent media etc. It may not be a priority now, doesn't mean that the demand doesn't exist. I will get to you with figures shortly.

But this total absence of soft-power, of civil society worries me a lot about China's future.

Also, the people who are here, the Chinese nationalists, I would like to urge you to be the "right" nationalists. The perfect nationalist is the one who is completely, with his heart and mind, for the country, yet never leaves a chance to criticise, complain and better his country. Please accept sincere criticism.

Arrogance, big mouth and talking tough is India. Everyone around the world know that.

Arrogance - No. You can't exactly be arrogant when half your population doesn't have access to toilets.

Big Mouth- Yes.

Boastful and Talking tough - Sometimes.

But these things do not discount the existence of soft-power. USA is much more arrogant, big mouthed and boastful, yet they have gargantuan soft-power.

 

[j20blackdragon]

Pointless thread. I could argue that the British Empire fell even harder. They used to control this much territory at the end of the 19th century.

How much do they control now?

 

[frequency]

You can't find a country that more humble than China, we have been kept low profile for decades, we do everything quietly, now China is just starting to yawn and stretch, and everyone starts shouting like"OMG the warmongering Chinese imperialism are planning to colonize the world."

What's wrong with colonizing the world? Do it.