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Yes I see it as a cyclic thing where empires rise and fall.
The west has become entitled and to some extent decadent...over riding all othger nations and cultures for hundreds of years in order to advance its own interests.
The west forced itself on the Chinese via the Opium Wars forcing China to go through a hundred years of humiliation and reflection and finally another 70 years plus of rebuilding reconfiguring its government and sovereignty in order to be able to respond to the wests imperialism.
The outcome may not be all bad- if the west recognises China as an equal and works with China things could turn out ok- but looking at historical precedents it seems like a long shot. More likely it will be a fight for supremacy with a winner, and a loser.
The world might also end up more multipolar with Chinese western and other spheres of influence.
Yes so far the chinese have been "fighting" with work and in the market, not dirty tricks like the USA empire exporting democracy every time the dollar was threatened. My hope is that it becomes a multi-polar world where commerce prevails as a relationship among nations and individuals.
This is quite possible as historically China has not sought conquest of others.
They did always expect tribute/respect from those within their immediate region and have for millennia had trading posts across Asia where enclaves of Chinese would co-exist within the local economy trading and often dominating in certain markets like gold but never seeking to overthrow the government as long as their trading posts were tolerated.
The Chinese have long believed their culture superior to all others and thus not interested so much in conquering others as long as their territory is respected.
In contrast the Christian west adopted an imperialist program of enslavement and military backed conquest starting with the expulsion of Muslims from Europe and going on to the slave trade and colonisation/subjugation of almost all of the world.
Both the west and China believed themselves superior to all others but historically China was less inclined to impose itself upon others, and now modern China at least expects to be treated as an equal.
The Opium Wars cannot be overstated as a brutal multi faceted shock to the Chinese sense of identity and sovereignty.
Perhaps under a more multi-polar world all cultures can be shown more respect and competition can be as you suggest more on the level of trade and exchange rather than subjugation and enslavement as the west has been more inclined toward.
Genuine free trade is after all the ideal system for wealth creation.
As Federic Bastiat said: “When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will”
It makes a lot of sense, it may seem very scary from a Christianity point of view. Some may say China and brics have the opposite values of western civilization (that destroyed itself) and may use some strategy to neutralize and destroy European values. Then other may argue that what have already destroyed Europe was something from within. Maybe it's just all just a cycle.