Is it xenophobic to hate any country that obstructs the development and progression of your own country?

I was reading this National Geographic feature article on China .

In the article, the author mentions how sometimes “the old xenophobia flashed across their essays” when describing the writings of his Chinese students. I feel this wasn’t a fair or accurate description of the emotion. Here is a sample he provided as “xenophobic”:

Sometimes the old xenophobia flashed across their essays. Once, I assigned the topic “What Do You Hate?” and never had those brittle pages contained so much anger. They hated the Japanese for invading their country in the 1930s; they hated the Nationalist government for ruling Taiwan. “I hate all the countries in the world that abstruct our country developing,” wrote Sean. History was personal, and so were international affairs; a student named Richard hated a man he had never met, the president of Taiwan. “Lee Teng-hui don’t follow the mandate of the heaven and comply with the popular wishes of the people,” Richard wrote. “He want Taiwan continue to be an independent kingdom which is under his control.”

Is it xenophobic to hate someone for getting in your way? I believe it is xenophobic to hate because of difference.