Its maintenance cost is loss of lives anywhere from 30% to 70% of Chinese population during inter-dynasty period.
I seem to recall Chinese politics during that period were dominated by "Warlordism;" and from that perspective the current Communist era begins to look like one of the shorter-lived dynastic systems that achieved "one China" status for a while.
One wonders when these factions will finally revert to classic Chinese form and go to war with each other. I have to think it won't be all that long....
Okay, so I understated things a bit...
I can’t imagine how a nation survives losing 70% of its population.