Claims

Hal Brands and Michael Beckley's book 'Danger Zone' argues that while China faces long-term economic and demographic headwinds and may be a declining power, this makes China more dangerous in the short term, not less, because declining powers are more prone to risky military action.

Even if China takes Taiwan, this would not resolve China's long-term demographic crisis or necessarily improve its economic woes, but it would help China in the short term and lock in geopolitical gains before the effects of long-term decline set in.