This is how we managed to drive the Soviet Union into bankruptcy. We made them believe they had to develop a missile shield defense, so they could “shoot down a missile with another missile”, and they poured so many resources into their version of “Star Wars” they were driven to insolvency.
Let the Chinese try to launch a naval air force. They won’t be able to crank out state-of-the-art vessels at a great enough pace to keep up with losses.
They are not going to do that now. The time is not right. The ChiComs want to corner the world market on industrial production. They have the manpower and they don't give sh!t about CO2. It may take 50 more years but when they have all of the heavy industry that is when they will kick into military overdrive.
They think in terms of centuries.