By Khedroob Thondup

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long envisioned a future where the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with — or above — the United States as a global superpower. This ambition rests on two pillars: economic might and military strength. Yet, the trajectory is far from smooth. The CCP’s path is being tested by slowing growth, demographic decline, and intensifying confrontations abroad.

The CCP’s first pillar is economic dominance. Since Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, China has pursued wealth as the foundation of national strength. The logic is straightforward: prosperity fuels legitimacy at home and influence abroad. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road, Beijing has sought to translate economic clout into geopolitical leverage, binding countries into its orbit with infrastructure loans and trade dependency.

But cracks are showing. Youth unemployment is high, prop...