they certainly played some of their cards right, their positions in solar/semiconductor raw materials markets, their position in a lot of value chains is dominant, they can manipulate world wide markets as long as everyone else operate as if they were just a group of independent market participants contrary to what they are(dictatorship with full control of every strategic move their citizens/companies decide to make a political instead of economic decision)

They have enough influence in multiple countries to swing votes in UN, WHO etc.

They successfully occupied South China Sea, and built military bases on artificially created islands in strategic points to military expand in the region(as long they have navy capability, and do catch up very quickly)

They have very weird situation with their fisherman army, that invades neighboring countries waters and depletes their fishing reserves

Their position is a position of North Korea that was allowed to gain position strong enough to cause a lot of damage, and since dictatorships can afford much higher damage without precautions it's not as clear who is in a better position to negotiate/fight