We shouldn't be concerned by statements of fact and China's emergence won't be unconstrained. Containment worked in the past, except when Japan started a war to start the 'co-prosperity sphere' in Asia.
USA will maintain it's military superiority beyond when China becomes economically superior this century, and we remain a lamb in relation to any of these countries whether or not they remain constrained by each other.
How they are balanced and how we interact with each will be the trick.
Ironic to recall that China was our ally, and that of the USA, when we were at war with Japan and Germany, and now the latter are our allies, but China is not - yet is our economic saviour - and also the rest of the world.
Countries have permanent interests and not permanent allies. Australia will continue to be USA's aircraft carrier this century, but towards the end of it, it may become a bit more difficult. We increased US military footprint here recently without a squeak, and as lambs we accepted it and will accept more.
However, avoiding a war-fighting and a fully provocative size of military build-up in the region and particularly on our soil later this century should be one of Australia's diplomatic aims.
We might do well to invite China to get involved in naval manoeuvrings with our other allies and Indonesia and India, not just hang around with our Commonwealth friends and European allies, I think. Much easier to think friendly geopolitics on the sea than on land.
