I have heard so many of these thunderous, self-assured statements. Russia can not loose, the caliphate of allah can not be defeated, the third reich will last a thousand years, the empire of japan will prevail. The USSR is superior, produces more of everything and better- the landscapes beyond the iron curtain are blooming. History books are filled to the brim with them.

And then the the bells tongue hits the bell- and reality comes crawling back, while the same empty statements ring on and on, ever more hollow. Words are cheap and posters are easy. But reality to make itself heard.

If the underlying problem, that caused the century of humiliation has not been fixed, it can happen again. China needs the world more, than the world needs china. If manufacturing can not be exported, it goes elsewhere in a hurry. Vietnam, India, Brazil, the world is filled with countries, that will happily shoulder what china does now.

The british empire comes to mind. Could it win a war against germany? Yes and yes. Was it a phyric victory, that ultimately rang in the end of the old empires. Also yes. War can be a game that has only loosers, the only winning move is not to play.