D.
SELF-CONFIDENCE
Consciousness of the size of their territory and population, of their basic agricultural self-sufficiency, and of the durability of Chinese culture remains an important element in Chinese attitudes. There is still a tendency beneath the surface for many Chinese to believe that dealings with the outside world are marginal and, if necessary, expendable.
C.
DEFENCE
The vastness of their territory leads the Chinese to believe that they can absorb and wear down any invasion by conventional means. The great efforts and financial resources which they expend on developing their nuclear capability indicate the high priority which they attach to this as the basis for preserving political independence vis-à-vis the major powers. Because of China's preoccupation with internal problems and defending its own territory, military expansion is not a major factor in the Chinese tradition. However, the Chinese display determination to ensure that their interests are respected by neighbouring countries, sometimes to the extent of using force, as on the Indian border in 1962 and the Vietnamese border in 1979.
a. THE LONG PERSPECTIVE
Because of their sense of history, and also to some extent because communist rulers need pay less regard to short-term political considerations, the Chinese tend to emphasise the long-term effects of decisions and policies. One example of this was their decision in re-establishing relations with Japanese in 1972 to waive all claims for war reparations: the Chinese apparently made this decision of their own accord rather than in response to pressure, in the interest of long-term relations with Japan, and perhaps calculating that the Japanese would thereby feel obliged to display generosity in extending aid to China. A very different example was the Chinese attack on Vietnam in early 1979 following the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. Here the Chinese apparently calculated that the long-term benefits of demonstrating to the international community their determination to oppose the Vietnamese occupation
of Cambodia justified the short-term costs and risks.
/e.