Just give it time, China has plenty cards to play in its hand too.
Their low point came with Japan during the 30s and 40s.
It is why they revere Mao so much still...it goes past communism or anything like that, he was the great unifier and gave the platform for China to grow again and recover.
Compared to that stuff, China challenge today with US is nothing....it can be handled and plenty of buffers to sacrifice without needing any kind of actual hot war....given Chinese have shaped and grounded their national existence and keep in touch with the history regarding the bad episodes of it.
As for the current generations being more softer etc, because they are removed from the tough years now....that is true somewhat....but that is turning into global phenomenon more broadly anyway....its not a special chinese trait or anything. If anything I find Chinese grounded in lot of conservative stuff (on common sense stuff) rather than the liberal artsy theoretical crap that is ruining lot of western world.
But let us see....Vietnam also stands to benefit a lot for sure...but it is not zero sum world where you need destruction of china to see your advancement. Chinese at basic level will fight and give it their all for their unity (again this goes past communism, mercantilism, trade etc...which are just means to the end)....because they know one step back is one step towards the earlier nightmare. All they gained now is basically buffer that will be shed as needed to try smooth things over the proper way....but cut too deep and u reach the bone and I dont think anyone will want to do that to China.
In the end better multi-polar world is in everyone interests...and China is definitely a cog in that. We must acknowledge it. Just seeking vengeance/doom on a huge country (through projecting their people as whatever) is ok for internet flame wars and stuff....but serious talk wise, there must be balance and sanguine approach on it I feel.
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