I suppose it is human nature to want to be top dog and not a satrap.
If I was French? hmmm, I'd take more showers
Well they may not shower as much as Americans but bidets are common there and not here.
The Chinese are not in a hurry like westerners are. They see the long view of history and know that frequently time will take care of problems for you. They see us as corrupt and getting over extended and probably figure while we decline they will be gathering strength and might figure they may never need to confront us as time may do the job for them. For now war and confrontation is not an advantage to them, our trade is.