What pulls together too long must split apart... 合久必分分久必合

From Twitter:

中国所谓的稳定，是因为中国过于庞大，中国即将动乱，还是因为过于庞大。合久必分分久必[合]，这苦苦的汾酒，可能还得喝。

Translated:

China is "stable" because it has grown outsized. And China is on the verge of collapse because it has grown outsized. What pulls together too long must split apart; what separates too long must pull together. This bitter, Apothic wine just may have to be drunk.

---

Translator's Notes

I am proud of the "Apothic" rendering in particular. This word refers to a blended wine. I used it because the original text ended by saying to drink 汾酒 (a kind of liquor) which is a homonym with 分久, or "to be separated a long time." The drinking of wine (喝酒) is also a homonym with 合久, or "to be combined/pulled together a long time." Hence, "Apothic" wine.

I also like the usage of "drunk" at the end. I originally had "sipped" - which is what you do to wine - but chose the word "drunk" because it implies a more reckless consumption of wine, plus it hints at unpleasant aftermath.