I am ethnically Chinese.
I feel it is just human nature causing the rise and decline of empires.
You can say it is greed, etc. But this is the framing from the perspective of a Westerner, who of course will feel bad about this, a sense of lost and nostalgia of the 'good ol days'. This is why framing the enemy as China or the East is starting to shape the political climate here. But really, most of it is a deliberate exaggeration for political preservation. Also people's confirmation bias and I will say a bit of unconscious and conscious jealousy about the visible wealth of Asians (specifically the dichotomy in their minds of the poor 'communist' Chinese) heightened by some of the arrogant displays of bling bling by the new wealth of some of the Chinese are intensifying the situation.
I am stuck in the middle, but this is how I see it. I just hope there is no big war. I can see the trend of the enlarged ego of the left-leaning and social justice group (like resetEra) mainstream demographic being apathetic about a war with China in the future if they continue to manage this narrative well. Even in the Chinese community here in Vancouver I can see groups always targeting people new from the Mainland with anti-Chinese government propaganda. For example, there are old ladies here from Falun Gong in Vancouver who only speak to new Chinese immigrants from the Mainland with anti-Communist comments. They would ignore me instantly after I tell them I am a local. Not to mention the free Epoch Times newspaper being distributed along mainstream newspapers around Chinese communities. In my mind, this is a way to change the identity of Chinese in support of the Western capitalist system. But actually, most Mainlanders understand all this, and they are quite objective about both sides unlike many in the West due to the media's focus on emotions and portraying an enemy. I enjoy speaking to Mainlanders about their worldview usually.
Even the situation with Hong Kong is mostly racist jealousy among the youth stuck in the middle (Mandarin not too good, housing price high AF) who feel shitty about their future prospects within the Chinese community, heightened by a coloured view of the past 'glory' days... which was mostly because of the middleman role HK played for Mainland China before. I was there in HK during the protest.
The Western media does not mention these enraged and possessed protesters threatening with violence any bystanders who take photos without their permission.... and only allowing their own group to take photos to feed the international community. Yet many will buy this messaging in the West because it feeds their confirmation bias against China based on a now sense of insecurity. I am a Cantonese speaking Canadian born Chinese who is not rich... and this is my perspective. I just finished studying in the Mainland and have met and spoken to many Chinese people, so I have great empathy and good feelings overall about China. If you can ignore the surface level bad mannerisms of some of the people (mostly born in rural areas), most are kind and decent. I actually prefer Mainlanders over HK folks even though I speak Cantonese because unlike in Canada where Western values are respect and equality. Part of Hong Kong cultural identity puts their copying of Western fashion and culture on a pedestal of being more superior among Asians instead of the real values of the West that I respect, that of true equality and freedom. This is the major cause of the protest really, that and the cultural climate in HK among the lower class which includes a lot of gossip and bickering.
Sorry for going off-topic, but I have been thinking a lot about this stuff since I am stuck in the middle, but I know I do not see China the way many in the West are starting to feel. I know it is mostly white dudes here. If the climate and planet does deteriorate to Mad Max levels then it will be bad for all, and the high Chinese population will be to blame.
In the end it is less about perceived control, but more about whether the government can fix inequality. It is part of Western cultural narrative to feel fear from being monitored and controlled, but it is not part of the culture in the Mainland at the moment. I feel most people in China could not care less, except some of the wealthy and criminals who wants to take their money out of China and buy all our houses... which the scary communist government is trying to control. Haha
