I have the following impressions: China has few allies because it was so isolated from the region during the Cold War and only recently has the ability and desire to expand its influence. The base in Djibouti is a recent one, legacy of the Belt and Road Initiative one that, btw, exemplifies aggressive diplomacy. China was not very expansionist earlier because it ruled the "world" (ancient China) or was weak (Opium Wars). As an industrial powerhouse, the situation changes and history becomes a bad guide. Do you think bureaucratic inertia will keep them from aggressive trying to expand its influence in the region, or in the globe? It sure will take time for they to build the expeditionary capabilities that the US has, but they are already doing that because they are planning an invasion.
It's not a rhetorical question. My knowledge comes from blog posts and news, but I think this argument of "historical pacifism" resumes to "despite having the incentive to aggressive expand its influence, bureaucratic inertia will stall them".
I have the following impressions: China has few allies because it was so isolated from the region during the Cold War and only recently has the ability and desire to expand its influence. The base in Djibouti is a recent one, legacy of the Belt and Road Initiative one that, btw, exemplifies aggressive diplomacy. China was not very expansionist earlier because it ruled the "world" (ancient China) or was weak (Opium Wars). As an industrial powerhouse, the situation changes and history becomes a bad guide. Do you think bureaucratic inertia will keep them from aggressive trying to expand its influence in the region, or in the globe? It sure will take time for they to build the expeditionary capabilities that the US has, but they are already doing that because they are planning an invasion.
It's not a rhetorical question. My knowledge comes from blog posts and news, but I think this argument of "historical pacifism" resumes to "despite having the incentive to aggressive expand its influence, bureaucratic inertia will stall them".