I don't see China as rigidly dogmatic any more...
The impression I am getting is bureaucratic but pragmatic and somewhat but not totally amoral, (if that's possible).
They will be content to conquer economically and culturally as long as they are on a roll.
In many ways China is very similar to what many U.S. intellectuals would like for us to be. A secular, capitalistic welfare state with limited freedom and a high standard of living.
If it works it will be the wave of the future. Either way, there is little hope for the traditional notion of freedom on this planet.
We gotta get off of this rock.