Yeah, I remember not being able to express any criticism of Ana Kasperian (feminist using video games to explore feminist themes and idea) without being immediately disgusted by the people agreeing with me, which is the same problem from a different end--that is to say, it's difficult to have a neutral discussion on some topics on the internet.
Honestly don't follow the news that much, but notice that for all the saber-rattling, China hasn´t actually done anything, in contrast to the US over the last, oh, 200 years. And I find the Belt and Road Inititiative creepy AF but a welcome change from the United States funding civil wars and murdering leaders to get its way... so, yeah, there's plenty there to discuss. But you did say it looks like China's stepping up militarily, so maybe it will fill the hardpower vacuum left by the United States' overpriced military (though I think the technology that has all but defeated the United States in the Persian Gulf also makes US-style interventionism increasingly obsolete).
I also have a theory that power eventually corrupts society as the powerful enrich themselves to the detriment of their supporting society--the parasite kills the host. It's already happening the United States. I'm honestly wondering how China, with it's centralized authority structure, has managed to not only survive so long, but actually make advancements as a whole.