The data is vague but it seems possible that China may not be able to burn 3.2 billion tonnes of coal a year for much longer. They talk of burning 5 billion tonnes a year (12 billion of CO2) but that could be wishful thinking. Their domestic coal production may have peaked and imports may not be able to keep up. In Australia good prices for export coal are interpreted as a sign of economic health, perhaps not planetary health. One new coal mine in Queensland will even be called 'China First'.

I doubt that another billion people can be catapaulted into middle class levels of consumption since there simply aren't enough resources to go around. If China goes flat there goes Australian mineral exports, not only of coal but ores and concentrates. The myth of permanent economic growth may have run its course.

Indeed. I've long been highly suspicious of the validity of Chinese economic stats. A strong "save face" culture militates heavily against the publication of unfavorable economic stats. Moreover, the central government's data collection methods are notoriously arcane and hence liable to producing wildly inaccurate conclusions, based on underdetermined economic indices. Nevertheless, in order to adequately furnish the public infrastructure required to support the proliferation of a middle class that China is talking about - approx 1billion - , without incurring concerning fiscal deficits, China's GDP growth would need to surpass 10% per annum. It would need to be at least 1.5 times that figure, given the enormity of the task. In the end, the environmental costs associated with China's galloping cargo cult may outrun any major, long term economic benefits.

“In the end, the environmental costs associated with China's galloping cargo cult may outrun any major, long term economic benefits.” (The Bulkman).
The environmental cost certainly will; not just for China, but also for the growth paragidm adopted, by the dominant economic fraternity, for the rest of the world. That represents a ponzi-scheme/cargo cult mentality heading us to social disaster. The timing of that is uncertain, but whether it proceeds gradually or with catastrophic suddenness is the only thing in doubt.