Is China set to take the world by force? Not unless it does so literally by force, I and my betters argued recently. Via the Corner, the UK's Spectator echoed the position with their latest cover story. The article itself is worth a read, though the summary does nearly as well:
China has no exportable culture, she is militarily overrated and her economy is not as successful as it is cracked up to be. Martin Vander Weyer says it's time we abandoned our superstitious dread of Beijing.
China is a threat, no doubt. But only because of its potential for bad influence, discord, sedition and conquest; in measures of enrichment and innovation, tyrants cannot force their captives to compete with the modern democracy.