Globally, the economically powerful minority groups are almost all politically disadvantaged (Southeast Asian Chinese, European Jews, East African Indians).

Political power is centralized, while economic power is dispersed.
Merchant alliances cannot resist the violence of nation-states and empires, just as the Hanseatic League naturally disintegrated.
Business is the mindset of middlemen, whereas nation-states and empires often make decisions beyond mere interests.
Chinese people are excellent merchants, and outstanding merchants require strong national protection.