China as a superpower will cease to exist if its economy crashes. Its economy is very dependent on EU and US. So yes, they will have to respect the rules.
You overestimated the extent that the Chinese economy is dependent on the US and EU. Exports in total, including to other nations, are less than 20% of their GDP. The US and EU combined account for less than 40% of their exports (ie. <10% of GDP).
They can manufacture almost anything they need. Oil is a major exception. They are addressing vulnerability to oil imports with big pushes for electric cars and nuclear energy, as well as alliances with major oil exporting nations.
They also have channels to import other raw materials, particularly from Africa with which they have strong economic ties and can in return provide the African nations with manufactured goods and expertise for infrastructure building.
On the other hand, a sudden, near complete sanction on Chinese imports would result in widespread shortage of many manufactured goods in the US and EU. Both sides will survive but it is unclear who would get hurt more.
I live in the Philippines and it seems like most products are Chinese made. Is China getting more benefit out of the US/China relationship than the US?
They can manufacture almost anything they need. Oil is a major exception. They are addressing vulnerability to oil imports with big pushes for electric cars and nuclear energy, as well as alliances with major oil exporting nations.
They also have channels to import other raw materials, particularly from Africa with which they have strong economic ties and can in return provide the African nations with manufactured goods and expertise for infrastructure building.
On the other hand, a sudden, near complete sanction on Chinese imports would result in widespread shortage of many manufactured goods in the US and EU. Both sides will survive but it is unclear who would get hurt more.
https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/chn/#Destinat...
https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/chn/