Don't forget the warlordism of the erly 20th century, when China was essentially many countries for a long period fof time.  

The West needs to get out ahead of this though.  Sometime soon the shit's going to hit the fan, and unless we (the democratic west) counter the nationalist fires stoked by the communists we are going to have  rogue nation the likes of which haven't been seen since  Germany tried to take her place in the sun early last  century.  

The west needs to put pressure on the the Chinese leadership to allow independent unions and the free expression of faith.  I don't expect China to be a democracy anytime soon, but I do think wee nedd to work to establish the insitutions of civil society for a peacecul transition.   We can't change China, but we can make the recogntion of independent unions, and the right to practice your faith freely the entry fee to get Chinese goods into the US and the EU.  

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg