Take a look at it. Each Province of China is essentially its own country. It's always been this way. Their common relations are based on organized trade between them, not that they have ever had a really strong central government.
When the main inter-provincial trade is disrupted sufficiently, the whole togetherness will collapse, and we will have
23 separate countries. Trade is collapsing right now.
How did you come to the magic number of 23 countries?
One thing is certain once the collapse is done and over with the Chinese will reclaim the land they left behind. The heart land, native Mandarin speakers will again form the Republic of China. Cantonese will form the own country, so are inner Mongolia... Most likely all three Koreans to form a country. Ten new possible but 23?