China is the gathering threat. They understand the Soviet system of economic isolation did not work and they are hoodwinking the world into thinking that the country is moving toward reform by allowing foreign brick & mortor investments. In reality, it is still hard communists pulling the strings and oppressing the people - they are sure not to have CNN televise it like they sis Tienemen Square.
The two most important allies in that we will have to stand by in the coming years are Israel and Taiwan. One is starting down the barrel of a terrorist gun, the other down the barrel of a communist gun. Both are security threats to the US.
I agree, The communist party embraced capitalism to survive. Our continue support of this policy, has brough freedom to the chinese people, although not completly I think we could not have come up with a better one.