What makes you think modern societies will turn out better? Our population is dangerously high compared to the ancients, and we generate massive amounts of waste. We are also much more dependent on a greater variety of diminishing resources than premodern people. The ancients didn't have so many needs.

Burning hydrocarboms for energy is a waste when they are needed as chemical feedstocks and are increasingly supplanted by renewables.

US material abundance is overstated for those at the bottom, there are a lot more people living on the street or in cars than you might think.

I suspect the US deep state is not as powerful nor as stable as believed. It's doubtful that recent political and diplomatic missteps are an intentional part of some oddly convoluted strategy. Certain current political happenings almost have the look of a purge.

Indians may be disorganised and incompetent, but it is dangerously foolish to underestimate them as a country. Tamils and other southern Indians have a long history of outward-looking overseas trade and expansion, and don't seem to be as culturally constrained as their cow-belt colleagues. Even a weak India is a danger to China if they allow foreign military basing.

I would take wacko announcements by Indian "science" figures as seriously as that retired PLAN admiral who claimed Chinese seaweed farms could entangle enemy ship propellers. It may just be disinformation.

Chinese must always keep on guard and not overestimate China or underestimate potential adversaries. What use is it to boast?