China: Expectations and Consequences

IMHO, China is mired by five major social, economic, and political predicaments:

1) A massive wealth disparity between socioeconomic classes
2) A massive population
3) Entrenched corruption at all levels of government
4) Perceived lack of human rights by the Western world
5) One-party rule by the Communist government

Above these obviously monumental issues is an even more severe umbrella problem: Any attempt to solve any one of these problems would likely exacerbate at least one other problem in the frightening list.

For instance, controlling population growth is unfeasible for China if the one-child policy is not perpetually enforced. China can either appease the West and allow its population to expand even further, or disregard complaints of human rights abuse and continue restricting family freedoms.

As another example, bridging the wealth divide requires the sort of bureaucratic clout that a single party -- operating efficiently with little political competition -- can best wield. Yet only a fleeting glance at municipal governments would attest that lack of such competition breeds graft and kleptocracy. Thomas Friedman touches on China's one-party dilemma in the following Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/opinion/09friedman.html?_r=1

In the face of international and domestic pressures pulling China in a multitude of directions, what is a burgeoning power to do?