China shows its strength, but does it actually want to use it?

Earlier this September, China made a several actions to showcase its military strength and superpower status. It held a massive military parade, sailed its navy through Alaskan waters at the same time President Obama was visiting the state, and Chinese tech company Tencent released a CGI video of Chinese forces attacking a military that looks suspiciously like it belongs to the U.S., apparently in support and commemoration of the "70th anniversary of the war with Japan," the same reason that the parade was being held. These actions are unmistakably meant to garner attention, and to send the message that China is willing to go to war, potentially with the United States.

But is it really?

While it is certain that China is a major global contender, and that it does not want the U.S. to have a hegemony any longer, I don't believe it wants to achieve this through war. China was able to become the economic force that it is today by opening up trade and business opportunities with the west. A war would mean the end of economic cooperation between the two countries, and that would do serious damage to both economies.

China wants to be powerful to an extent that is equal to or greater than the United States. But it is doubtful that it is actually willing to achieve that position through direct war.

Blane Erwin