Ok, I understand the consideration and even a certain level of admiration for the capability of such a large population to govern themselves so effectively and

Ok, I understand the consideration and even a certain level of admiration for the capability of such a large population to govern themselves so effectively and shrewdly over time as to implement a new 5 year economic plan, every 5 years, successfully - that's an accomplishment... There are quite actually empty skyscraper cities - with likewise massive corresponding infrastructural investments - this failure of central planning as an issue isn't always city sized but is widespread. It's a human thing... so it makes mistakes. Like China's Navy specifically designed to insure dominion over the South China Sea... what's the point of that? To insure dominion? Now everyone is convinced China is going to be making moves for the top spot - bc that's what they signalled with such a Navel buildup. They are rejecting the US Global Order and suggesting that China may be an increasingly better alternative for international Leadership... but they only have a mere couple decades left of economic growth before their entire economy will experience a population (and thearby economic growth) contraction like no peaceful society in history has before. Who wants to sign up behind that wannabe Great Power? Had China contented themselves with #2, we could have propped up an "adversarial" relationship political to seemingly dampen US Hegemony but in reality be each other's largest trading partners and whatnot - you know, like it used to be ;) Now everyone knows tho - China's got a timer on it.