> The issue is that China needs energy and other natural resources to sustain production which the US and allies can effectively blockade.

You just answered your own question.

They are so hostile, and aggressive exactly because of that immense insecurity, and fear.

It's the mental model you pickup growing in any red country: you never acknowledge your weaknesses, lest you want them being instantaneously exploited.

On other hand, you feign a polar opposite. It's everywhere in China:

— Far from rich people in small towns buying fake Ferraris

— Dumb companies hiring fake "big name foreign executives" to mumbo jumbo their plans to investors

— "Advance to retreat" tactic

— Chinese businessmen hiring a service of "fake thugs" and tatooing themselves to appear "tough mafia men" to scare off actual mafias