What is incredible to me is how history goes in circles — China see’s itself as having no need of allies or partners as it is the Middle Kingdom.
It can use vassals but has no need of partners
They have their own demographic problems. China in ten years is going to be a bad place to be. They have an aging and sick population supported by millions of middle aged men who will never have families.
Have you seen images of kids in China? If you think American kids are obese, take a look at China. The kids there are so special now they are being spoiled like no other generation of Chinese babies.
There is a lot of saber-rattling about Taiwan. In not so many years, China wouldn’t be able to walk up the steps of the Great Wall, let alone pull off an amphibious invasion of a western supported island a hundred miles away.