Just remember where China was in 2012 before Xi jinping.

China was well on its way to reap the rewards of a large population and a strong manufacturing industry before the current leadership. It would have taken unusual incompetence to squander that.

Then Xi Jinping came and started the Chinese influence expansion with Belt and road and AIIB.

Belt and Road has been a circus of corruption and a disaster. It’s viewed as a debt trap internationally. The claim of the Sri Lanka port lacked subtlety and showed China’s hand too easily. It was an opportunity to convince the world China is not power hungry and expansionist, even if it has those aspirations. It’s such a childish tactical mistake.

The other examples you mention are awkward and embarrassing excercises in pushing money and military around.