The widespread perception that China is, or soon will become, an aggressive and expansionist power is simply wrong. It is propaganda rather than fact—a kind of right-wing agitprop.

Far from being an aggressive power, China is fundamentally a defensive one, and long has been so (although one can argue that, over short periods, it has occasionally gone on the offensive).

Historically, China has been the one attacked and invaded—by Britain, France, the United States, and Japan. Today, it is too deeply integrated into the global economy and too financially entangled through its vast holdings of American and European bonds to behave anything but defensively.

Territorial Sensitivities and Strategic Encirclement

This does not mean China lacks ambitions. It seeks to bring Taiwan into the mainland’s fold. It will defend what it sees as its territorial integrity—including Tibet, Xinjiang, and disputed islands in the South and East China Seas.

While some Western politicians dispute these claims (except for those regarding Xinjiang), China believes it has a case for each. On maritime disputes, however, it would be wise for China to........

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