[cudgy]

Yes, countries are not monolithic entities. Such generalized statements don’t really mean much and don’t convey much. I doubt whether you know what self interest “China” is interested in as it would depend on context. I prefer statements like the leadership of China or the people of China or the military industrial complex of China or the Uighyrs of China. Even better it would be to provide accurate polls of the groups to determine what their self interest actually are. I think you would agree that all of these groups have different priorities and therefore different self interest.

[koonsolo]

Those groups you mention are also not monolithic entities.

[cudgy]

True, but you must agree it’s more granular then a simple reference to 1/3 or 1/4 of the population of earth.