“It is clear that neither the United States nor Europe is mentally prepared for the prospect of another country, especially a non-Western one, being successful, let alone overtaking the West. This is particularly true for China: a country long viewed as backward but which has now succeeded while following its own political, economic, and cultural model.” https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/why-asia-should-be-worried-by-americas-bullying-of-china/?fbclid=IwAR22eeEnnc0hWii6chLw05Dv_uWcWwnMiE7wRB3_YWvaqkOSptYq-mR3inc
Thing is, America’s been in retreat from the region for several decades now. It’s also been pressuring Japan to rearm and take a larger military role in the region. Then there’s of course the Philippines who kicked the US out of its bases back in the early 1990s. Why wouldn’t China step in? The red carpet’s been roller out for them!