Is war with China on the horizon?

[Ashground]

China isn't going to start conquering the world (not militarily anyway), they're trying to consolidate their region and doing a pretty poor job of it. These disputes have alienated nations like Vietnam who've ended up on the same side of the dispute as the US! People give the Chinese government too much credit on political, military and even economic issues. Their reputation maybe one of ruthless efficiency and intricate planning, but in reality their policies are often short-sighted. Look at their response to the recent economic slowdown, stop-gap measures betraying their lack of any real plan (Not to mention allowing that bubble to build for so long). It's easy to have a reputation for good governance when you have so much control over the media.

China's history colours their view on war, they don't want it. Back in the 19th century China had an internal war (Taiping Rebellion) which killed at least 20 million people, which is more than the number killed in WW1. Their history has built a viewpoint which fears chaos more than authoritarianism.

I'm stunned that anyone would think that China wants a large regional war on their doorstep. Besides, the real threat militarily is coming from Russia. Annexing parts of Georgia and now Ukraine using the ethnic Russian presence in those countries as sufficient casus belli *Cough* Sudetenland! *Cough*.