Attached below is a speech delivered by Prof. Lin Yifu on that ridiculous "Collapse of China" prediction which had yet to be realized after Reform and Opening-up.  Regretfully Capt. Lin Zhengyi(林正誼連長) did not have his personal experiences to witness what had happened before 1979, during which China Mainland sacrificed the welfare of a generation or two for laying up the foundation of China today.  But many a netizen supplemented the missing link with equally perspicacious comments.  (Unlike their counterparts shallow, ignorant, and abusive online comments often found in China Taiwan, the ones of China Mainland are generally spoken on good ground with solid judgement.  That is why I like to surf on the websites of China Mainland.)   

https://www.guancha.cn/LinYiFu/2019_01_09_486159_1.shtml