The eight are Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Malawai, Chad, Swaziland, and Sao Tome and Principe, but only Liberia and Malawai accepted the invitations. China traditionally shuns all nations that diplomatically recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, but at the same time is eager to urge such countries to cut ties with Taipei and recognize Beijing as the sole legitimate government of all of China. Chinese Hegemony good. Well at least he says he is in favor of respecting national sovereignty, unless of course you are Tibet, Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan, Mongolia, etc. To develope this kind of mentality is due to certain degree of long term isolation from rest of the world.
China is no regional power, they are traditional imperalists in history.
Like Romans, Chinese people were peace loving sedenary in the begining. The primary goal for China launch its campaign against other people was not to occupied the land, but to eliminate the threat. China was then united into one strong empire under 1st emperor of Chin Dynasty. It marked the begining of Chinese imperial age and thousands days of conquest and expansion. The mighty Han Empire followed shortly after.