The inherently parasitic, extractive elite in every empire so far loved mercantilism though, it appeals to the centralization focused, extractive, landlording mindset. China is trying to be as mercantilistic as possible (buy raw goods everywhere, ship only final products) and has none of the free trade idealism of the us. Which is one of the reasons the belt and road initivative is already collapsing.
The empire, the external face-hugger to any country, eats it all after a while, turning it into giant estates ala rome, with slaves and no middle class - with hired mercenaries for troops.
