... And a Chinese hegemony in ur region is a threat to your security. Just look at how the US treats the smaller Latin American countries in our region. Imagine what will happen to you under a Chinese hegemony.
This is the exact argument US is making to all the SEA nations as well.
I think this maybe a wrong argument.
For the last 2000 years of history China, 18 of the last 20 centuries, China and India were the largest economies on the planet
until those western imperialists undermine both India and China.
Here
and here
1.) Back in year 14 AD, the Romans imported so much China stuff that Roman silver went to China and nothing going back to Rome
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/6z11p0
2.) Most of global gold and silver in 16th and 19th centuries went to China
3.) And we should never forget, British solution to their money problems was opium.
They wanted Chinese people stoned and dumb to get their money back.
4.) And the US trade deficit
5.) And the latest, just few days ago
See history never repeats but it often rhyme.
Yet China (or India for this matter) seldom use their money and resources
to impose their will on weaker countries. China use it to protect the trade routes. That is why during the Tang dynasty (year 800),
they were forced to subjugate parts of Central Asia to control the trade routes going to Constantinople and Europe in general.
Why there is a Great Wall of China in first place? Walls are basically to keep other people out. In this case, the northern barbarians.
Those barbarians just plunder and pillage those poor farmers in northern China and several month long journeys trade caravans from Xian to Samarkand or Constantinople.
If China was a hegemon by then, it could have conquered back Northern Vietnam in 13th or 14th century (Norther Vietnam was part of China for almost a 1000 years. They rebelled and gain independence.). Or conquered the Korean peninsula. Why they didnt?
Well the Chinese emperors in the Ming dynasty in 14th century realize how costly to wage war very far away.
Instead they focus in defence, they strengthen the Great Wall, because they thought northern invaders still pose a great threat. And it really was.
Now in the 21st century, the norther barbarians are already subdued, the Great Wall has lost its function.
Yet the barbarians are now coming from the sea thousands of kilometers away. China never sent a single warship to their shores.
Yet these barbs are coming to China shores waving their flags and say it is freedom of navigation.
That is why its time for China to put a great wall on the sea to keep these barbarians out.
