The CCP

I generally consider myself a China hawk. (Look at my comment history.)

Some threads attract significantly more 'dedicated' commenters than others.

You're not going to find a lot of nuance and understanding here, I'm afraid.

FWIW I largely agree with what you've said above. The 'threat' narrative grows because the west likes the unipolar consensus, with no other economic powers having enough status and power to challenge that hegemony. Of course when other powers come to the fore they will be declared as an existential threat; nobody wants to share a throne they sat on alone.