So, we should not mistake one thing for another: Due to globalization, there will certainly be more people-to-people exchanges; but these are often unrelated, unimportant lot (unless they are not undercover agents like the white guys we often sight at anti-China protests in Taiwan). Our respective governments will continue a cut-throat cold war that might even develop into proxy wars (although I do not expect direct confrontation -- not because you do not want, but because you cannot).
Greater interconnectedness, in fact, gives you, being the stronger party, additional leverage to play against China through a myriad of measures like academic anti-China-ism, social media manipulations, cyber attacks, sending agents as tourists to stir discontent inside China in the hope of a second Tienanmen, creating an academic discourse of China-threat, using your influence to stir anti-China sentiment in Taiwan (US AIT in Taiwan is actively working to alienate Taiwan from China), Japan etc., putting smaller nations against China etc. etc.
Yes, we are each other's business partners, but, I guess there is not much feeling of civilizational, cultural affinity similar to that which you share with, say, Europe. We will never take part a partnership under an institution like NATO. That's the truth.
Adversity and rivalry are fine for China. So long as you keep your cool, I guess, China can keep its. The historical struggle continues and no need to feign innocence or ignorance of what exists.