China will not be a democracy. For their culture, it would make no sense.
Hopefully, they either see us as not a threat to them (which is doubtful) or to strong to take on (which is what they see now, but for not much longer).
The next world war will be in Asia. China needs the resources of its neighbors to advance, and as long as they give her that all is fine. But one day someone will say no, and troops will be sent in.
Mark Steyn predicts China will creep in and take over the vast expanse of northern Asia (Eastern Siberia) as depopulating Russia vacates and retreats west of the Urals.
Another expansionist opportunity for BEijing would be central Asia and there the pickings again would be ripe indeed.
Places like Indo-China etc are too much trouble militarily speaking for the resources they offer.
My 2 cents.
People said that about Japan, too. People in Britain said Ghandi was on a fool's errand because India couldn't possibly be a democracy.