Imperiums fall, such is the effect of time.

And in time others rise, sometimes in the same region.

China will fall too, at some point.

Memento mori, amor fati!

Sic transit gloria mundi.

Ooookkkkk. That's not even China's goal. China need the US and Europe to have strong economies to sell stuff to for the foreseeable future. China doesn't have a strong consumer sector, outside real estate, which is not a good driver for growth in the long term, and the demographics of China mean it's not likely to develop a strong consumer class before the work force ages out.

But why do you need to sell stuff to anyone, once everyone else has shit economy? You can lie back and relax at that point, you're still top of the heap.

You're on top of a garbage heap instead of a mansion.

Hardly matters to rulers, they still get all of life's amenities.

Eh these days biggest trade partner for China is ASEAN, it will be much bigger of course if other Asia included. Especially when RCEP become effective.

What is China going to do? Tell their corporations to take on trillions upon trillions of foreign currency denominated debt, become unable to repay it, default on it all and go bankrupt?

Because that seems like the current MO.