The Japanese are right in their fear of a future Chinese invasion. Most nations want to keep the status quo - China being the source of fuel, raw materials and manpower, not them running around playing age of empires, which is what the CCP is aiming for. To be honest, I don't see how China can break free without declaring some kind of war. I can see they are setting up for war all around Asia, with infrastructure "aid", buying up ports and all that. Even then I don't think China can win, being isolated as they already are. Not sure what their end game is, but it's not gonna be peaceful. It is a dire situation for China. I don't see China surpassing the US in any meaningful way in the next 20 years.
If you think about it, the rise of the US at the end of 19th century was really one of its own, every condition for it was absolute perfect, like the most remarkable mathematical formula. It's lab-condition perfect. I don't believe China has the privilege of rising peacefully.