Once China begins innovating like the West, then I think they will be on track to truly take over. Otherwise, they may successfully copy and steal much better

Once China begins innovating like the West, then I think they will be on track to truly take over. Otherwise, they may successfully copy and steal much better than anyone else, and perhaps become dominant in that way, but that does not appear to be the same kind of domination the West has produced. Historically, it did not overpower outside influence. Instead, China chose to become isolationist to protect their culture, which ended up stifling their progress.