That would be a new China. Aside from wrestling over Tibet, China doesn't have a history of conquest. Who would they possibly fight against? I can imagine some bullying over disputed islands, but not much else. War with Japan might be cathartic, but they don't have the navy for it.And if authoritarian regimes without deep legitimacy are tempted to rattle sabers when they can no longer deliver good performance, think about the incentives China’s rulers will face if and when that nation’s economic miracle comes to an end — something many economists believe will happen soon.
Yes. That was a very strange sentence. Once the Chinese economic engine slows down, the Chinese government will react in much the same way it always has when faced with similar problems: it will lie to its people, block their access to worldwide viewpoints, commission massive and pointless public works projects, foment extra nationalism, control the press, etc. The Chinese government has habitually done its thinking for its citizens. It has no need to ... start a land war with Mongolia over copper.