[borghead]

That is very true. You can also add Japan to the lot. So China's strategy would be the to weaken all three. Looks like they are doing it. Russia is not only very weak but also China's strategic partner. India is rising but still far weaker than China, and its surrounded by Chinese client states that serves to contain its influence. Japan is economically dependent upon China and it is declining. So in essence none of the major powers around China has the desire and the capability to seriously threaten China. With this in mind then it is only a matter of time before economics makes China the richest and most powerful nation of them all. So far this strategy appears to be working.

[Poohbah]

Taiwan already HAS nukes, unless they're dumber than a fencepost.

[Fee]

Today we have a five polar world. US, European Union, China, Russia and India. These countries have large populations, land mass and resources. Japan is no longer considered a major power in the large scheme of things. Russia is the most flexible of the five. She can play China and the US against each other. She can sell more weapons to China for hard cash, if the US complains, she will want her debt restructured. If she gets too close to the West, China will complain and Russia will want consumer goods at lower bartered prices. India and China are natural enemies due to previous history and geography. The US and China will clash over interests in the Far East. If the US falls back from the Far East, I think tensions with China will be lesser. China's serious historical threats always came from a huge land mass powers (Russia and India) on her land borders. Can China be a rich country, yes, but her huge population will weigh her down. I think China will be a regional power but not a world power.