One thing that always holds true is that nature operates on a functional balance, and any time something no longer functions a new system balance will be generated; this is no less true for human politics as it is for things in the natural world. A corollary to that point is that the critical elements in the generation of a new state of balance will be placed in the necessary positions to do so; this also means that, in the human political-economic context, China will be the effective standard bearer of a new state of balance because they are the ones with the means to actually fulfill that role, and this operates independently of intentions or desire for either themselves or external parties.