If China wants to demonstrate power abroad it needs a navy to do it. Without a navy that can at least checkmate ours (4-5 carrier task forces) they cannot project power. I do not see anyway they can pull off a navy of significant proportions and technological savy to threaten us in the near future. Also consider that the Japanese have a sizable compentent navy in the vicinity which would combine with ours. Ditto Taiwan and South Korea. We would probably see further reinforcement from Australia/NZ. China is using its military build up to offset its political weakness at home. It makes everyone feel proud and secure when the truth is they are neither. China's real threat comes from within as a portion of their population becomes wealthy and a majority of it does not. China has been down this road before and it ended in civil war. With a historical and philosophical underpinning of socialism how can the have's argue successfully with the have-nots?