What do I know about China… not much. Apart From WW2 reading up on The Hump, Flying Tigers etc and movies like The Last Emperor.
Now that they have a new Emperor, may I recommend “The Invention of China” by Bill Hayton. Published in 2020.
Associate Fellow of Chatham House and Beeb World News journalist.
Its heavy going, but very well worth the effort. Chapters deal with, in great detail, the following….
The invention of China, sovereignty, the Han race, History, the Nation, the language and the Maritime claim.
Get stuck in and persevere…it’s well worth it. For ones own education.