I agree that the US and its western alliance has the potential to become a long term threat, but I think you're underestimating China's strategic thinking. A Great Game is being played over control of central asia, and it is not the US who is winning, but the expanding Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China is endeavoring to match US technology to technology, from the J-20 stealth fighter, to ASAT, to ABM, to the Varyag. And even has an anti-ship ballistic missile which not even the US has. China is exerting its influence in its territorial claims in the East China Sea.
At the same time, China stresses its intention to develop peacefully and does not militarize in an all-out fashion. This soothes the nerves of China's neighbours and the jittery west, leaving room and time for China to grow its economy. Any attempt at this stage, while China is still relatively weak, to "secure important strategic interest" at the expense of the West will only see China sanctioned and weakened. Only by securing a strong economy first, then a strong military, will China be able to pursue its important strategic interests. And I don't mean world conquest, I mean reunification of Taiwan with China, resolving the East China territorial disputes, China-India border disputes, and so on.
This is why I find Russia's bluster toward the West so curious. Russia's military is inferior to NATO by every measure, except for nuclear deterrence, and yet Russia is the most vocally anti-Western country anywhere. The same goes for Iran, who has suffered deeply for defying the West. I suppose if pushed far enough, you have to fight back. But openly defying a stronger foe has not gone very well for Iran.