Could you please define the meaning of "friends" on the country level. It would be better if you could give me an example of your 'friends'.
I presume a country that will stand by you through thick and thin.
Something like the USSR to India, where she stood by India even during its differences with Russia's fraternal brother, China.
What kind of gov it would be if it doesn't place its own people's interest on the top priority?
And again, please give me an example: how we forget we are part of the world.
Of course all Govts should work towards its own interest.
However, it has to be done cleverly and not upset or scare others.
The ideal example is that of China in the 'Peaceful Rise of China' phase. In that phase she built up equations around the world that supported her even when it may have been morally incorrect. By clever diplomacy, China projected herself as a responsible collaborator of the world, opened up their market to foreign investors, gained all the tech knowhow, and without causing any concern to others, built up China's economy and slowly her military might (this was done marvellously well since none ever made any protest).
But having got herself in a commanding position, China openly challenged others who thought they were the sole owners of the 'superpower' status. They baulked. They built up 'strategic partnerships' and all that and started taking action to confine China. Even then China was the most likeable nation in many parts of the world.
It is when the Chinese adopted the tactics of the very imperialists they condemned, as in Africa, and flooded their markets with cheap Chinese goods which the local industry could not contest with, that things started to sour. Thereafter, China flooded the countries with eager and sharp Chinese small business entrepreneurs, who were chary to mix with the locals, it gave the impression to the locals who were colonies of the West and had barely thrown out the imperialists, it caused real resentment since like the colonials, China was behaving the same way wherein their sharp and highly competitive businessmen were destroying local small business, and at the same time, like the colonial rulers, were isolating themselves from the locals! It must be remembered that Africans are very sensitive of the ostracisation they have historical faced because of their colour and feel any isolation, even inadvertent and innocent, is a deliberate slight!
While the Africans resented the Chinese, the rest of the world read of their plight. There were also many visuals and with the Youtube everything was open to everyone with a computer, even if the TV programme may have been missed.
Hence all are wary! Especially those who have been under imperialists and who are trying to build a country of their own!
And so China is losing friends.
Again, which part of China policies is out of its capability?
China is strong and there I don't agree with Kickok.
Yet, because China is showing very subtly that they are strong is what is upsetting many.
The South China sea issue is one where China is trying to browbeat those involved in the dispute.
Unnecessarily flexing its muscle with India with silly issues as stapled visa and South Tibet. And good for India that China has done so, for now the Indian Govt has woken up. It maybe by design so that India wastes money on defence and not for their people, but then money is not really that big a problem for India as it was before.
What will be worrisome for China is if India 'outsources' some of her defence to friends, even in a very loose tie!
It has upset the US instead of lulling the US to sleep as it had done during the 'Peaceful Rise', the US has realised what is afoot and is taking rather serious and even dangerous move that can only be against China's interests.
China has shot itself in the foot!
It is quite ironic when you say 'Helped" as if Japan was USA's enemy in that war, as if US just started to 'help' us because Japan attack it at first.
Oh, I forgot to mention that USA also helped Japan to invade China by selling all necessary resources for Japanese war machine.
In WWII, Japan was not US' friend, and instead was an enemy.
The US helped Chiang Kai Shek of China in that war and never forget the Hump that kept China alive! Or else, you would have been a part of Japan!
Thanks to China's militarily aggressive policies that has become current, Japan which had becoming 'neutral', it has sent Japan scurrying back into the US' warm embrace. To imagine Japan did not want to be in the US plan to contain China from India to the Pacific Rim, but now Japan is making overtures of total intent!
No, your soviet friends didn't helped us built the industry base. That is the reward for our huge sacrifice in korea war which helped your soviet friends after their expansion policy. By the way, we paid every piece of machine they sent to us at 3-4 times price later.
That would be a total falsehood.
Your ancient industries that you are converting is all based or gifted by Russia.
They helped you all the way.
Don't be ungrateful.
This is how you all reinvent history!
And we paid them with all kinds of financial, economic aids even during our difficult period.
Give us another bedtime story or another story from Hans Christen Andersen!