China's growing confidence is clear

It's easy to be impressed with the material progress China has made in recent years. Having lived in Shanghai and Beijing over five years has meant living in the de facto developed world. These megacities are more advanced than some of their Western counterparts.

But looking only at the surface is to miss important parts of contemporary China's story. One of the missing angles is the attitude of the Chinese people.

No one would accuse people here of having failed to love their country in the past. One need only look at how millions of Chinese fought against a powerful military machine during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).