Some news outlets have warned that China may be very close to doing in Asia & the entire Pacific theater what Japan did in the 1930s!
And what an ideal time to do it. It's once chief competitor in the military and political world, The USA is under total control by an old, erratic, delusional president and his mob of morons & amateurs at every level of a federal government in tatters.
The American workforce once rejuvenated by its youthful immigrants is still being decimated deliberately and energetically at every possible exit by a ideological rather than tactical comisar.
Militarily, America is stretched thin helping Ukraine and Israel but can't even meet the material needs of either. The US army is at questionable readiness under the clumsy leadership of an ideological know nothing, recovering alcoholic.
It's other branches are in similar tatters & disorientation after six months of weakening ideological purges.
The civilian population of America is so disunited and poorly led by its anti-government political cult that putting it into "ship shape" like in 1942 is mostly inconceivable, even laughable.
Financially, the American government is digging itself into a deeper and deeper hole by very expensive tax cuts and increasing foreign dept on one hand while alienating its allies on the other.
If China were to immediately take Taiwan and occupy the Philippines while uniting with North Korea, Vietnam and Russia America would BE UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND OR OPPOSE ITS MOVES FOR the next four years under the chaotic rule of the Trump regime which clumsy American democracy is unlikely to overthrow any sooner.
China also will not fear a long isolation from America after its brutal conquest because American politicians are always quick to forgive their former opponents if financial gains & greed are available as following North Vietnam's taking of the South, China's TienAnMen massacre, then it's early move on Hong Kong.
America's maga self destruction will take so long to stop, correct, reform and rebuild from it will have no power in the world to effectively oppose a suddenly EXPANDED CHINA and will soon bow to the emperor in Beijing bearing gifts and praise!