"so China is able to take multiple limitted aggressive actions--if they even want to--without fear of military reprisal--but--and this is the key--they have insulated their regime from our only proven way of dislodegment--we can't use our military without crippling our economy--it is a profitable (for them) stalemate "
or that is where we will be in the future ? and isn't China at this point in time dependent on our economy for their high level of growth? With our compnaies that are investing, the technological know how we are sharing and the dollar amount of goods we purchase?