The American magazine estimates that "China is preparing for an imminent war that may include the United States," explaining that "such a war could lengthen and lead to frightening results."

Atlantic magazine, in a report published on Monday, noted that "China sees the 1920s (of this century) as a time when it will have strong incentives to seize lost territory and dismantle alliances seeking to halt its progress."

The report believes that "Beijing has big regional ambitions, in addition to a strategic culture that places emphasis on "First attack, and and attack hard."

"If a conflict breaks out, senior U.S. officials should not be optimistic about how the conflict will end, and restraining or reversing the course of Chinese aggression in the western Pacific may require widespread use of force," the report said.

The magazine summed up its report by saying, "The warning signs from China are already flashing red, and in fact considering the reasons and circumstances in which China decides to go to war is key to understanding how much America and other countries do not fully understand Beijing's moves."