Viet Nam and the Philippines would probably view them a little differently. Likewise Japan and South Korea. An SSBN is not a tool for waging a local, coastal war. I think your view of China is dangerously optimistic. Yes, Mohammedanism is a global threat. Communism (in its myriad guises) is no less of a global threat.
I do agree with everything you say. I am not going to waste any more words “defending” China. Communism is communism and historically they are absolutely the worst ever in history.
I wish more people knew the details of the Great Leap Forward.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward