China, on the other hand, is growing in technology by leaps and bounds, has more bodies than they can count to throw at any situation, is more wealthy by the day, and after being kicked around by the Japanese for hundreds of years, they're more ambitious than ever. If we were to collapse into a violent civil war, I would be shocked if they didn't try to capitalize and invade the west coast...
I definitely agree that the 21st century will be the Chinese century. I am hoping that there will be a demand for individual freedom as the country develops.
A couple of observations: China PRIMARILY thinks of itself as a "middle kingdom"... that is, not too much this way, not too much that way. They want power and respect and wealth and influence, for sure.... they just don't have much of a history of wanting to invade and subjugate territory outside their immediate sphere of influence. Never have.
This is not to say that they would not consider it for the USA, but if they did, it would be like the US wanting "buffer" states between the old USSR and states we considered vital. Punish our aggressions, put us in our place... that sort of thing. They have never had a desire to rule or extend influence in the form of military dominance.
Also, China is heading for an absolute precipitous population problem. That is right. I said it. The one child policy is shaping up for an asymptotic curve DOWNWARD starting in about 2040. This, by the way, is why western Europe, and Russia(!!!!!) are having such crazy problems. No kids means no future. You need an avg of 2.3 children per couple for STASIS in a population. Under 1.4 and you have a population crisis...., or cultural extinction. China is eating its seed corn.
The booming Chinese economy is due to one thing, and that is the relative freedom to produce and profit by a billion people. I think the taste of that will provide a stark choice for China, which will be similar to ours, frankly. Do they want to continue with a path to abundance, prosperity, with the driving engines of FREEDOM AND CHOICE or do they want to emulate Russia and communism, which was described, just before they fell, as "Upper Volta with missiles."
Just as an aside, ALL the western intelligence agencies continued to posit the USSR as a serious threat to the west, that they were just itching to pour through that Fulda gap and subjugate Europe, screaming THEY HAVE PLANS FOR IT!.... even while the whole thing was collapsing from within.
They STILL have "plans" to invade Europe (I am dead serious). We have "plans" to invade Mexico, and Russia, and China, and Africa, as well. It is what pointy headed military folks get paid to do.
Would not put much stock in that, frankly.