China's Busy Building A Belt & Road Seaport There.

To allow for the export of rare earth minerals from the DRC.

https://www.rt.com/news/533047-tanzania-shots-gunman-police/

It was really the arrival of the first Black Ships in Japan which marked the end of the Silk Road. Opening up faster maritime trade routes.

China has clearly learned from the past. Now also building seaports, railports and even faster airports.

I still wouldn't bet against Japan slapping the Para Airport Opening Ceremony together in about a week though.