Every nation is a few, one or two failed harvests from starvation. China already relies on imports to make up their shortfalls in food production. Without those imports the people will starve. In a war those shipments will be disrupted. If the war drags on people will starve in china. As always it wont be the elite that starve. It will be the lowest. You want a revolution. Thats how you get a revolution.
When a loser knows they will lose they will delay.