Didn't a guy have his leg's nervous system rebuilt or something this week using stem cells or something similarly futuristic, so he could walk again?

My only hope is that with the rise of the Chinese as the major world power we'll see at least a little decline in world conflict. They don't seem like a war economy.

No. But being so centralised they can switch to a war economy easier than most. And (the Central Government at least) is pretty dismissive of non-Han Chinese types. And, in business negotiations, their word is about as solid as water until they actually sign on the dotted line. And they like occupying other countries and destroying the local culture.