what does it mean?

[NewHopeR]

What does "poised for the destruction of its freewheeling old ways by assaults from Japan"mean? Does it mean "kept clam when Japan was destroying its old way of slow moving along"?

Context:

　　　Shanghai... a congenial base for cocky Europeans doing business in the Far East but poised for the destruction of its freewheeling old ways by assaults from Japan.

[bhaisahab]

What does "poised for the destruction of its freewheeling old ways by assaults from Japan"mean? Does it mean "kept clam when Japan was destroying its old way of slow moving along"?

Context:

　　　Shanghai... a congenial base for cocky Europeans doing business in the Far East but poised for the destruction of its freewheeling old ways by assaults from Japan.

No. If they are "poised" for it, they are "ready for it.

[NewHopeR]

No. If they are "poised" for it, they are "ready for it.

Thanks