Founder & President, Forest for the Trees (FFTT). Author of "The Mr. X Interviews, Volumes I & II.” RT not endorsements.
2/ The "20-yr window of opportunity while the US was distracted in the Mideast" point was made by an anonymous US official in linked article; China knowing about their "Malacca Dilemma" in 2003 was noted by Helen Thompson in her excellent book "Disorder"
A greatly under appreciated point. William Catton wrote a book called “Overshoot” that examined modern economic history from an objective ecological perspective. I would recommend pouring a stiff drink if you read it
It was such a great book.