What China is really after is slowly pushing out and slowly increase its control in seas around China and its neighborhood. While slowly pushing out and giving

What China is really after is slowly pushing out and slowly increase its control in seas around China and its neighborhood. While slowly pushing out and giving itself more options. China is playing the slow game and they will continue to play it for a long time to come. But of course the slow game also has lots of issues for them as well. Issues with their population, with India, with the regime and so on. China is in a position not that different from Germany pre-WW1, but arguably even better. But unlike Germany they are not controlled by complete war glorifying idiots. China believes the future is going their way, unlike the Germans who basically believe they would lose out in the long term. They don't have a insane collapsing Austro-Hungary as an ally constantly dragging them into conflict. And nuclear weapons exist.