[ClearCase_guy]

China strikes me as something like czarist Russia, or the Austro-Hungarian empire. Big. Strong. Grand. And then a war comes along and they are shown to be a house of cards and they tear themselves apart from within.

If there is a fight, and if Japan comes out on top, I don't think China could handle that. It would be shattering.

[mrsmith]

Despite our huge military we can’t afford to offend either of the two biggest supporters of our welfare debt.

I wonder what past nation that makes us like?

[Viennacon]

If they lost, the Chinese government would be overthrown, just like the Argentine junta after the Falklands War. It would also add to the list of Chinese humiliations at the hands of their island cousins.