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There are multiple things going on. There are historical grievances around say the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, but there is also

Chinese expansionism going on and a great Chinese nationalist rhetoric going on. You're listening to War College, a weekly podcast that brings you the stories from behind the front lines.

Here are your hosts. Matthew G is on a sign.

Hello and welcome to War College. I'm Jason Fields and Matthew Galt is on assignment to an undisclosed location.

China had a rough 20th century. It began with a monarchy and collapse and vast popular unrest.

Western governments and companies had forced open ports and used armed Marines to protect their interests.

China was battered by the Japanese in two world wars and a civil

war that eventually put Mao and his communists in power. Millions died in the

wars. Many millions more died in the great leap forward. But that's a long time ago. Now China has the world's second largest economy and a premier military. So how does China's

path shape what it wants now? Paul French joins us to explore exactly that. He's a

writer and journalist who spent many years studying China and is the

author of a number of books including the Edgar Award winner midnight in Peqinging.

Thanks for being here.

Thanks a lot for inviting me. Can we start off by just talking about how China sees its place in the world?

I mean at one point it called itself the Middle Kingdom.

So where does it think it stands now?

Well I think China now under President Shee with the Belton Road initiative and so on wants to put

itself back in that middle position, seeing itself as that trading conduit, manufacturing

...