[tatrajim]

Then, again, it might just be a logical reaction to the fundamental political changes that have occurred in the PRC since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013, especially after he changed the constitution to remove term limits in 2018. Under his rule, private business has been increasingly marginalized, state security strengthened, public surveillance hugely magnified, and diplomacy changed from the prior Deng-era "taoguang yanghui" (keep a low profiles, bide your time) to the current "wolf-warrior" strategy. The result has been in countries such as South Korea a growing mistrust and disliked of China (now 80%+) compared to the Jiang Zemin - Hu Jintao eras.

The current "Two Assemblies" meetings in Beijing are likely only to exacerbate this trend, with, e,g. all control of the security agencies shifted away from the State Council to Xi Jinping himself.

[senttoschool]

No, I believe this was going to happen no matter what.

It happened with the Japanese in the 80s/90s as well where American media vilified Japan because it thinks Japan will become more powerful than the US.

China is trying to climb its way out of the "cheap labor" economy and into a developed economy. The US and the west are trying its hardest to prevent this from happening and this includes using every tactic possible including propaganda, sanctions, etc.

[senttoschool]

1985 article: THE DANGER FROM JAPAN https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/28/magazine/the-danger-from-...

[ZeroGravitas]

Or 1986 Ron Howard comedy film with a Chinese/American title but about Japanese car manufacturers in the US:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gung_Ho_(film)

[tatrajim]

Under Xi Jinping China launched a series of security initiatives targeting outsiders. An emblematic case was that of Apple, whereby the Apple Book Store and iTunes Movie Store were abruptly shut down after prior legal approval.

"Apple Services Shut Down in China in Startling About-Face"

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/technology/apple-no-longe...

So, too, Wolf Warrior tactics against South Korea over China's anger at U.S. THAAD system, including the destruction of Lotte's entire business in China.

"One company [Lotte] is bearing the brunt of China's anger over U.S. missile system"

https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/07/news/china-lotte-thaad-sout...

Ironically, China adopted Wolf Warrior tactics in large part because the claim you make about the perceived threat of the U.S. treating China like Japan in the 1980s is now a commonplace cliche all over China, used to justify a host of aggressive policies. This hostile posture, overseen by Xi Jinping, has helped achieve the near impossible: political unanimity in the U.S. Congress against China.