Time is not on China's side.
They are rapidly becoming more dependent on imports for food, energy, and many raw materials.
Those who export to them will take notice, and take profit.
http://static.seekingalpha.com/uploa...ependence2.jpg
The US is dependent on foreign crude, but not critically dependent.
We are fighting with one arm tied (arbitrary environmental restrictions), have a large strategic reserve, and much of our imports come from Canada and Mexico.
China's economy is very labor-intensive and the population is sensitive to inflation (particularly in food).
The dual problems of wage pressure and demographic decline may prove intractable.
The faltering of China's economy is a far greater threat than their economy surpassing that of the US.
The easiest way to placate over a billion disgruntled citizens is to provide them with a common enemy.