China is very interesting. They are walking a political/economic a tight rope. Autocracy and a vibrant economy are unsustainable over the long term. Either, the nation chooses to maintain autocratic political control and thereby stymie the country's innovation and flexibility or they turn to a liberal political model so as to maximize economic opportunity.

At present, China is maintaining its balance by feeding nationalistic sentiments. Taiwan being the most simple and obvious example. This is prudent as it ties into the larger dynastic cultural milieu of the nation as the Middle Kingdom, and distracts from the rampant corruption and other growing pains.

Which direction will China go? Hard to say. Presently, over forty percent of China's exports are headed into the U.S. They are also building the country's first blue water navy. China claims most of the South China Sea as national territory but is surrounded by nuclear powers as in: India, Pakistan, Russia a potential N. Korea and a Japan that could turn nuclear in a month. China has a GNP of over 8 percent, but 8 percent growth is the bare minimum just to sustain the hordes that are flooding to the cities. China could go either way, but I think engaging China in the hopes of seeing a free and vibrant nation is the right policy both economically and politically.