Interesting article, thanks.
"Now, according to Cai, the Communist Party aims "to replace the free and democratic system of modern mankind represented by the United States, and the values and order of peace, democracy, freedom and justice," with its own model of governance."
Of course, that model of governance is parasitic. Without a host to leech off of (like the US), it fails. I was reading a paper last month about Temasek, the way Singapore controls vital companies. China and Vietnam are both trying to copy the Singapore model (i.e. an authoritarian one-party state that is prosperous). Singapore leaves its vital industries to be managed by themselves, without political influence. China and Vietnam have both tried to copy the model, but China especially fails because the CCP won't let loose. Any large or vital company in China is ruled by the CCP, who can fire and appoint board members at will. So, companies like Huawei cannot exist unless they satisfy the demands of the CCP.
The best China can hope for, I think, is a coup d'état whereby the liberal faction of the CCP takes over and puts Xi and his henchmen behind bars. (Actually, being China, execution is more likely.) If that doesn't happen XI will push it to the point of a major war, or the whole country will eventually collapse into civil war - and people worse than Xi might take over in some areas. Unless there is an internal coup, I think war is by far the most likely - and that's going to be awful for the world.
