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The main reason often cited for China’s downfall is demographic collapse.

They have too many old people and not enough young people.

It’s potentially possible that automation can solve this problem but China’s economy has relied on relatively cheap labour for growth and the shift from will be rather alarmingly sudden.

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While it may be true that China has/will have "too many old people and not enough young people", it's still quite the stretch to posit

1. China has demographic imbalances

2. ???

3. "It is sad that so many lives will be lost in the famine that results."

If you want to see China demographics collapse: https://tradingeconomics.com/china/employed-persons

That being said, they can avoid a production collapse by increasing productivity. China is building all kind of infrastructure like crazy. They need to move to first-world status, however, in the next 10 years or so. It’s going to be interesting to watch.

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