Overseas expansion is an action that any nation, when its power accumulates to a certain level, will undoubtedly undertake. From a perspective that sets aside moral and conscientious scrutiny, its stimulative effect on societal progress is undeniable.
However, like everything in life, an unfettered, headlong expansion can bring detrimental consequences to a nation's true interests. These damaging consequences can infiltrate every aspect - politics, military, or economics. Even if one is lucky enough to avoid the strategic pitfalls of fighting the wrong battle, at the wrong time, and in the wrong place, an unrestrained arms race can nevertheless lead to escalating national debt, heavier taxation, and intensified social conflicts.
