China is the original Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Even in a period of relative weakness in the 19th century, it expanded its territory by almost 50%, adding Tibet and East Turkistan to its holdings. A China that is fully developed, yet retains the old habits of territorial expansion, is a possibility that hasn't yet dawned on its neighbors, given their low post-Cold War defense expenditures. China's neighbors need to be spending more on defense than they did during the Cold War, because Soviet units were focused on Europe, whereas Chinese units are focused on Asia.
Why the Chinese don´t say that Africa was theirs too...then they would not have to buy it all...just plant a flag and voila..you own it....