[ethbr1]

> China can at least so far be relied upon to not shoot itself in the foot (and take the whole word with it)

Here's the dangerous thing about that: modern CCP China is a newly ascendant world power.

Say what you want about the US today, but when was it at isn't interventionist worst historically-speaking?

Countries don't go to war because their leaders take them to war: they go to war because a sufficient chunk of internal interests support war.

And China has a rather politically-powerful military. Although Xi's recent housecleaning substantially weakened that power.

If China goes to war, it's probably going to be because their economy is in tatters.

[rob74]

> If China goes to war, it's probably going to be because their economy is in tatters.

Well, they probably also have to factor in whether invading Taiwan is likely to improve that situation, and I would argue that it's not - China is currently exporting stuff all over the world, so economic sanctions would be very painful for them. And there are lots of countries who would like to have a slice of the manufacturing that China is currently hogging...

[ethbr1]

Very rarely do countries go to war because they think it will improve their economy.

They go to war because a large chunk of their population is pissed off about the economy.

See also: US

[maest]

The US routinely goes to war to secure cheap oil, so I didn't think that's a good example

[RobotToaster]

Great powers go to war due to Thucydides Trap. When a hegemon feels their position is threatened by the success of a rising power, they usually try to crush it. https://www.belfercenter.org/programs/thucydidess-trap/thucy...

[aprentic]

I believe that China's deep answer to that problem is, "There are no just wars in the Spring and Autumn period. "

There are some internal policy papers to that effect.

[monooso]

There is considerable evidence to suggest that the current US President goes to war if it will make him a quick buck.