In the '80s Reagan brought the Soviet Union to its knees by ramping up the US's military spending and the USSR went bankrupt trying to match it, spending more than 30% of GDP on the military.

Today the CCP is facing a similar dilemma. The massive cost of expanding its military and maintaining the south sea islands is coming at the expense of its citizens, the housing boom that drove much of the economy has delivered 50 million surplus housing units and is starting to stall, the global slowdown and tariffs are creating a manufacturing slowdown, the defaults by citizens and businesses are peaking, and the population is rapidly ageing with retirees reaching 30% of the population in a few decades.

To top it all China's aggressive foreign policies has cost it its allies with the exception of a few despotic 3rd world countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gB_53L2g_o&t=12s

Interesting and complex topic Shadow Minister. In my view the stability of the world is dependent on the fall of the CCP and the dividing of China into at least four parts- Northern, Shanghai, Canton, Western China.

shadow,
In the '80s an overvalued rouble meant the Soviet Union was almost bankrupt before Reagan brought it to its knees. So China's economic problems are hardly comparable.

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Canem,
Why do you think the division of China would be desirable, let alone necessary, for stability?

Nathan,

That the USSR was spending 30% of its GDP on the military didn't help either and nearly as much before 1980.

The major factors against China are:
1 it is spending far more than its revenue and the debts of the state, the local governments, the banks and individuals are becoming unsustainable. The BRI is a disaster with many borrowers set to default. The housing bubble has sucked up the investments of a large % of Chinese savers.
2 The young vibrant workforce from 20yrs ago is now ageing and there are far fewer young workers starting.
3 Just about every neighbour is pissed off and arming itself against Chinese aggression.
4 the favourable trading policies it had with the richer countries is coming to an end, and gov interference in the markets has external people disinvesting.

While nothing immediate is likely to occur, it is beginning to look as though China has peaked.

China has its problems, and that's plain to see. However economically the United States is in a far worse position. The Americans live in a fools paradise believing renewed prosperity is just around corner, whilst all indicators show economically they are in decline. As America resort to excessive militarism as a counter to Chinese expansionism such moves are in no one interests, and should be called out by others, including Australia.

Pauliar,

Once again your complete ignorance of a subject didn't stop you from pontificating on it. Apart from predicting America's doom every time there is a hiccup what else can you add?