China also doesn't invade other countries every few years,

I've been saying for a few years that China is growing in an age where you don't necessarily need your military to occupy a country to try to get your hands in their shit. (incoming: broad statements not meant to vilify Chinese people)

The biggest threat is online warfare. For example a few years ago when the US Govt accused the Chinese govt of hiring hackers who had taken down some of the internet infrastructure for a day, so they hit back and took out parts of China's internet for a weekend.

As well as buying up swaths of real estate in North America, buying out businesses (might not be a big factor but I've seen it), investing in infrastructure of neighboring countries like Pakistan, which is quite obviously a long-term political move.... the next war might not involve a lot of bullets, if you catch my drift.