@alyx The United States has risked the fate of the entire human species for the sake of it's pride. No other country holds that distinction. Not that China wouldn't likely do the same but I think they are more similar than different at least in this regard.
@alyx The Cuban Missile crisis being the most obvious example.
@alyx The Americans already had a metaphorical gun pointed to the head of the USSR. This was in the form of missiles in Turkey pointed at Moscow and other key Soviet locations. The Soviet response to this was to return the gesture by installing missiles in Cuba. This was unacceptable to the US administration who would not tolerate even retaliation from the Soviets.
China might be on a different level though than what we're used to with USA. After all, Asian cultures are predominated by concepts of honor and pride. It's their cornerstone.
For USA, it's more about freedom/liberty. The arrogance and pride came as a consequence of their past achievements.
While (some) Americans would take extreme measures to defend their freedom, and then be prideful while/after doing it, China will take extreme measures to defend their pride.