And they'll never be a threat as long as they embrace communism. The greater their adoption of capitalism, individual rights, and democracy, the greater will be their threat. Of course if they do that, they'll be an ally, not an enemy.
I live down in Chile and was able to check out a Seagull camera. Costs about a third as much as a Pentax or Canon, and is astonishingly well put together. The optics are SUPERB, if not quite as good as Canon PRESENT DAY optics.
At least as good as Canon or Pentax best ten years ago, which in practical terms is good enough for most people.
China manufactures just about everything now (no doubt they have learned from plants set up by Americans, Japanese, Europpeans, etc) but
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE TECHNICAL PROWESS OF THE CHINESE, NOR OVERESTIMATE THEIR INTENTIONS.
Chinese are just folks trying to get along. I would be very surprised if anything violent ever came of Taiwan...
It is sound and fury signifying nothing - China brings it up now and again for their own internal politics and to gain prestige on the world stage by "standing up" to the U.S...