The paranoia of the "red barbarians" toward China is age-old, but deluded in a basic way.  A closer study of history indicates that Chinese territorial and imperial ambitions have always been largely limited.  China at its various zeniths has  always dominated more commercially than militarily or diplomatically.  In the place of expansionism that has characterized most other great powers, Chinese history is marked by the establishment of commerical colonies scattered far and wide.