The unhealthy posturing near Taiwan, the repression of minorities and the "social contract" between citizens (you get materially better lives) and ruler (no questioning of the ruler)... When things are built like that and crack, they crack deep.

All these things have been the same for several decades. They are not new signs of anything.

They are the same, but the material wealth is not increasing anymore. What happens then? Taiwan conflict is edging from posturing to cold, hard steel.