The 5 Eyes - An alternative to NATO? A Match for China

[Kirkhill]

....China must, always, look three way: North-West towards Russia, their "ancient enemy;" South-West towards India, the other "rising great power;" and East, towards the USA - the country it wants to displace in the world.

Does China have any natural friends amongst its neighbours?  Surely, after millenia of existence I they (Edit: Freudian Slip  ;D)  must have learned how to get along with some of the neighbours?

 

[Edward Campbell]

Does China have any natural friends amongst its neighbours?  No. Surely, after millenia of existence I must have learned how to get along with some of the neighbours? Quite the contrary ...

... The Chines have, for 2,500 years looked upon their neighbours, indeed the whole non-Chinese world, as barbarians or, at least, less than wholly 'civilized' people. Even when the Chinese first practiced "soft power," about 1,500 years ago, the results were poor - they could not stop at exporting Chinese culture to e.g. Japan, they had to try to impose more: imperial government and so on.

Plus, in the 21st century, the Chinese are big, Big BIG and their neighbours are, naturally, fearful. Consider our relationship with the USA (1:10) and then consider how e.g. Viet Nam feels at a ratio of 1:15.