If they have a score to settle, then it's only because they are living in the past.
The Chinese are also belligerant toward the US. What is the score they are trying to settle with us? It wasn't that long ago that China attacked India.
To me, it seems that the Chinese economic and technological expertise is growing a lot faster than their maturity.
This on going war with Islam is buried in the very deep past.
Hatred and revenge transcend generations. It is very real.