Tired, I say you are quite right. China has a long way to go to become a military and economic superpower like the US. Also will the external developments allow China to become a superpower? Its very hard to say anthing as of today. Japan is becoming increasingly nationalist and N. Korea is developing new weapons every month (or at least they claim that's what they are doing). So the Chinese are in a very difficult situation. If thi ngs do not improve, I think it will be hard for China to even emerge as an economic superpower because most of the developmnet money will have to be spent on securing it's borders.