In general it’s safe to say China plays the long game.
I remember the astonished vibes of articles coming out in Polish press for 2008 Olyimpic in Beijing, they were absolutely unable to believe a country can plan 30 years ahead and deliver. Sinophobic ones then shat bricks in fear. Truly a Napoleon quote moment.
Even Parenti made that mistake in Blackshirts and Reds. I don't hold it against him, since it came from his methodology of using western sources, but it was a mistake after all.