Honest question: where did you get that in the first book? I might be forgetting something, but the series is very pro china. As for your feelings about the first book, I think those are valid. I tell people that the first book really is just a tiny prologue to the second one (The Dark Forest), which is some of the coolest sci fi I have ever read. Most put at the best in the trilogy for good reason, and it is nothing like the first. It also shows a flailing United States trying to reign in other countries for control, and losing...

Obviously, if it is not your jam, I would say do not read it. However, check out a plot synopsis...it's pretty awesome.