The Chinese army set up a major base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa just a few years ago. It is the PLAN's first overseas military base and was built at a cost of US$590 million. I'm sure it won't be the last.
If China can do what US can, they will do it. To think otherwise would just be naive.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/05/03/two-us-airmen-inj...
Thats a bit of overstatement don't you think. Its very different culture after all, and you are speculating based only from the American exceptionalasim viewpoint which I think is very very outdated.
Every country in the world would be an empire like the US if they only could. Its a matter of opportunity not motivation.
The bigger issue is what would China do with all that power? We know what the US does with it and I don't think a world lead by China would be as nice a place as a world run by America.
It depends on what you want. Me, I want a world with democracy and due process.
I don't see anything like that eminating from China and I doubt I ever will.
Not every country has an expansionist policy
Surprise.
Rest assured if that was a thing I could do the. I would certainly have a policy regarding it.
Its the same for countries and expansionism. Those that can, do. Those that can't, dream.
Those with sufficient survivial instinct will have a drive to dominate and those that don't won't dominate.