China strictly acquires natural resources through trade, not domination

[Percy, “Why China is not planning to conquer other nations” John Menadue’s Public Policy Journal, Sep. 30, 2023, https://johnmenadue.com/why-china-is-not-planning-to-conquer-other-nations-part-2/ Accessed 7.19.24 GDI-HB]

Here are four more reasons why China is not planning to conquer and occupy any other nation.

China has no territorial ambitions

Besides settling and securing its borders, China has no claims on other nations. Countries with grandiose territorial ambitions make no secret of them. Hitler’s Germany wanted more “living space” (Lebensraum) in Eastern Europe and Russia to resettle its burgeoning population. By contrast China’s population is shrinking due to parents embracing a one child policy, in part because housing is too expensive.

Imperial Japan’s mission was to “colonise” the Asia-Pacific region to access natural resources, especially oil, rubber, and iron. Japan did this by invading China, Korea, and other neighbouring countries. China knows it can acquire natural resources through trade not colonisation. Indeed, if its aim was conquest its easiest target would be democratic Mongolia which is over double the land mass of Ukraine, is resource rich, has a small population and tiny army. China like many other countries (including Australia) has invested in Mongolian mining of coal, fluorite (fluorspar), copper, gold, silver, and other metallic ores.

In public speeches and private meetings China’s leadership keeps reiterating it wants “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation”. Nowhere does it threaten to invade a nation.

The exception might appear to be Taiwan, but no major nation recognises it as a sovereign state because they endorse the One China nation policy. It would be tragic if Taiwan, a thriving democracy, was invaded against the will of its people. For reasons discussed later it is doubtful that will happen if its status quo is maintained. What is key to understanding China’s foreign policy is that it considers Taiwan to be unresolved business from its civil war, not a quest to take over a foreign nation.