China plans ahead in decades. US plans ahead less than 12 hours, and depending on the moodswings in the Oval Office are pretty much the definition of unreliable right now.

There was a fascinating quote that some friends around Singapore told me once: "When China comes, they build roads and infrastructure. When US comes, they destroy, enforce and leave emptiness"

And, given what happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and other shitshows I tend to agree.

China learned that cultural influence is playing the long game, and they're very successful with it.