Some rants on the US.
Where do I start? Well as a Chinese growing up in PRC, I know that our leaders are all big fans of the US, so are our people. How so? Jiang Zemin could recite the Gettysburg speech by heart. I myself am a big fan of Marvels, DC and all those nerd fantasies.

It's not incorrect to say that one or two generations of Chinese grew up looking on the US with a sense of worshiping, equating it with progress, modernity, freedom, all those good things you can think of. Jiang was a big promoter of US movies, which got opened in Chinese market

like a fat boy in a candy store. I used to go to the local cinema with my dad, every weekend, to watch American blockbuster movies. I still remember the shock I felt watching thousands of gazelles galloping on African grasslands in the Lion King, and, not able to understand

the English dubs (the only ones available because people were too eager to watch, not allowing time for local dubbing), I made up my mind that nobody was gonna stop me from learning English like a native speaker. Those were funnily good times.
In 1998 the US bombed the Chinese

Embassy in Belgrade. It was at the height of the Kosovo War. Five precision bombs landed inside the embassy, completely destroying the whole building and killing three compatriots. The whole country was in shock. Massive protests against US transgression all over the country.

Still, President Clinton visited China around three months later. Following his visit the two countries were able to put aside these clashes and worked on the WTO agreements which opened a new chapter for Chinese economic growth. What do Chinese people feel about America?

I guess, "it's complicated". It's like the pal that you viewed as a special friend growing up, who helped you fend off bullies. But when you grew up and strong, he kinda turned away from your circles. Well, in fact more than that. Sorry I am writing such a shitty and inaccurate

post but maybe pardon me because the topic is just so..complicated. The Chinese definitely have been looking up to America for inspirations, a lot. After all, on the trail of development, the pioneer always faces the greatest uncertainties and challenges. China as a second-runner

benefited immensely from American inspirations. From the focus on business ("the American business is Business"), to the adventurous spirit, to open-mindedness to pragmatism, to a sense of heroes rising to the occasion.. There are so many lessons we took from the US book.

Which brings me to the controversial part (both in domestic and international contexts): do we just become American, or do we insist on being Chinese in the core?

It seems to me that the Chinese leaders as well as its people have made that choice, to be Chinese. Why so?

Well, maybe every kid wants to become a man. Learning from a big brother is awesome, so to speak, but where is the fun in that if you live in his shadow forever? Maybe there is a cultural element which is instilled in our minds all the time? After all all the ancient Chinese

legends were about how Chinese fought against existential threat, whether it be a perilous nature or menacing invaders. Maybe we just enjoy being ourselves more than anything else. I don't know for sure. But one thing I grew up to realize, as do many of my compatriots, is this.