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For once, I think we can laugh with China. To start with:

1) They understand power is based on nationalism, not international socialism. They see international socialists as naive dimwits and failures. The Chinese “communism” has evolved into little more than a modern version of the Confucian bureaucratic monarchy that preceded them.

2) They are not particularly given to imperialism, preferring exploitative trade with dictators to military conquest. They do insist that the nations which surround China culturally do things, “The Chinese Way”, as a buffer against powerful nations outside of this circle. This “cultural imperialism” makes little sense to Americans, who have their own way of doing business.

3) They do want substantial foreign trade, which means trade routes, and a deep water navy to defend their shipping. They prefer naval supremacy in the western Pacific and Indian oceans, but it increasingly unlikely they will get it.

4) Since the 1980s, their intent was to prepare for an eventual naval war with the US. This intent was very well known to the US Navy, who planned accordingly. However, the rise of India has made serious headway in its potential for conflict with China, and this is a much more serious prospect from the Chinese point of view.

5) Ironically, the seriousness and realism of China cannot stomach some of the sillier western fads like internationalism, climate change, progressivism, international law and “human rights”. While they will let others fool around that way, they will not sign up to any such schemes. Because they see them as such, just schemes to get money and power, nothing more. If they are to enrich Al Gore, it is for political concessions when he is elected. Otherwise, he can sod off.