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They are not, at least have not been, imperialistic and we don't want them to be.

You seem to be forgetting about the invasion and brutal repression of Tibet, a separate nation and culture. Doesn't that meet your definition of imperialism?

In some respects, they are IMPERIALISTIC by nature, by instinct . . . and by arrogance. They've not done a lot of such most of the time because they could not--it was too big a job managing what they had.

But they tried to consume Japan at one point. Many would love to do so again just to take revenge for WWII.

Don't forget Gengis Khan. He was not Han. But they still are proud of the fact that a close-to-Han sort of person consumed so much of the known world at the time.

I think the idea that Beijing or the Chinese nation is not Imperialistic is a naive one. . . . regardless of their protestations and pronouncements.

You seem to be forgetting about the invasion and brutal repression of Tibet, a separate nation and culture. Doesn't that meet your definition of imperialism?

Yeah. I thought about that. While this is an action that is Imperialistic, China doesn't seem to be trying to become an imperialist power, the way the Soviet Union did. They have disputes, like the Spratley (Sp?) Islands, and they have government run business' that have taken strategic positions (Panama Canal, Internet Fiber Cables (Worldcom?)). They also exercise enourmous economic hedgemony in Asia, but this is mostly informal. Informal in the sense that ethnic Chinese businessmen dominate business in many Asian countries, but are not directly involved with the Chinese government. Having said all this, I think it is likely that China sees Tibet as being a defensive buffer from India.

They are not, at least have not been, imperialistic and we don't want them to be. You seem to be forgetting about the invasion and brutal repression of Tibet, a separate nation and culture. Doesn't that meet your definition of imperialism?

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China's imperialism is temporarily held in check by its geographical position. To the north lies Siberia. A military move into Siberia would result in 20,000,000 Chinese popsicles come winter when their supply lines were cut. To the Northwest lies the Gobi desert. A military move into there would mean catastrophe. To the West lies India, the only country in the world that can match China's population. Everything else is water. Militarily, China needs to build over-water mobility and reach with a navy, air force, and missiles that can be used to nuclear blackmail any opposition.