Mearsheimer's main point is that America must contain China, with the help of Russia, Japan, India.

The trouble with this scenario is that Russia's economic relations (oil and weapons) with China are developing at an exponential rate, while Japan will gradually see America as a greater enemy (or a lesser friend) than China, which is inevitable given the cultural and trade intimacy between Japan and China. India is not likely to be of much use to anyone.

Trade dependence on China will make Taiwan a very reluctant ally of the US.

If China turns out to be a hegemon in Asia, that's not different from America being the top dog in the Americas. Why should this be a problem?

Will World War III break out between America and China? It didn't break out between Russia and America during the Cold War, and the two countries had little trade and people contacts. I just don't see how a war can break out between China and America when they have so much to lose economically from any large-scale conflict. Neither can afford to lose their trade relations, let alone millions of lives.

So, this so-called "realist" school of thought is not realistic at all, because it ignores or neglects too many other balancing factors in the equation. I'd be very surprised if Mearsheimer's view of the future turns out to be right. The only thing I think he's right about is when he believes China's economic growth is unstoppable.