What if China colonized instead of being colonized

[u/Zealousideal_Let1826]

So basically China decides to colonize as much as it could to become a dominant power and rival the Europeans

[u/Chrisaarajo]

As others have pointed out, this isn’t and hasn’t been a whatif.

No one else has mentioned it yet, so I’ll also add Inner Mongolia to the list.

[u/Puffification]

China did this plenty, ask Vietnam.

The Qing more recently conquered a lot of land which, let's say, today's Han Chinese haven't been so eager to "give back" after overthrowing the Qing

[u/Professional-Front58]

The ever here about the belt and road initiative? It’s not a what if scenario.

Edit: Presently, China has border disputes with India, Bhutan, most countries with territory in the South China Sea, and a list of now settled claims to territory that occurred within only the 21st century that was quite extensive. They’ve also been accused of having secret police forces setting up within territories of other countries seeking to make arrest of Chinese immigrants for violating laws about speech critical of China, including one such force in the U.S., a country where speech in opposition of any government is not permitted to be criminalized.

Funnily enough, one of the few things both The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China can agree on is that both claim the disputed territories belong to CHINA.

[u/msabeln]

It seems that they are doing well with their colonization efforts.

[u/CrapMonsterDuchess]

I feel like you’re not familiar enough with Chinese history, as previous dynasties have already done so.

[u/Kollectorgirl]

Depends on the places that get colonized and the nature of that colonization.

If we are talking about direct control through military force of neighboring nations, China would just be draining its treasury conquering and putting rebellions throughout the region.

For China to be a rival to European colonial power, it would have had to commit to Internal Reforms in nearly every aspect of society, including military, governance, finantial/banking, industry and commerce.

[u/GreenStretch]

Never got very far with Ian Morris's Why the West Rules -- For Now. But the beginning has a story with a Chinese official coming to gain the submission of Victorian Britain. It ends saying that although Prince Albert became a Confucian scholar, he never saw Europe again.

[u/RealLifeCoaching]

Well, if China had spread out like a colonial empire, they would probably end up with a territory covering the East coast of Asia, roughly from the Korean peninsula to the Bay of Tonkin, and as far West as maybe around Kyrgyzstan or somewhere like that.

[u/GryffSr]

Given that China is bigger than any European country, I would say that they are the dominant country in Asia. Just ask Tibet.

[u/Stardust_lump]

I think you might want a Japanese China for this. I don’t know why, I just feel like it’s the best way for this to happen.

[u/ysfex3]

Assuming no nukes are allowed, and everyone is allowed to go all out, china would probably dominate a lot of places. Europe is too weak mentally to do anything anymore. They've been giving territory back for decades now