Zemin didn't make that tour to Panama, Cuba, et all for the sightseeing. He was looking for proxies.
I believe you're wrong. The Chinese are afraid of us. Why? Because we are a lot stronger than them now.
Now, picture this. Bush says he feels threaten by little Iraq and 'regime changes' and disarms them before Iraq could throw a stone at us (which they would never dare if not threaten but that's a different story).
Now, what lesson would China and N Korea would learn out of this? I'll tell you:
STRIKE FIRST OR YOU MAY LOSE YOUR CAPABILITY.
Thanks W!