>US going to war with China (whether it is an economic war, a classic war or a hybrid war ) is US falling into Thucydides Trap. It is one war they aren't going to win. The only winning stance would to not go to war at all.
The problem with national security, is its peacetime leverage is only as effective as your actual willingness to fight a war, even if both sides lose.
Ideally, then both players jointly avoid war.
But in the real world and history, surprising dynamics, contradictory local politics, or miscommunication, can all quickly or slowly lead to wars both countries lose.
The alternative, is consolidation in one country with effectively guaranteed national peace.
Which game do you choose, because in the real world, there is no game where both countries agree to never go to war credibly and solve everything with dice matches, or single handed combat between leaders.
Countries that seem to be reliable allies are almost always on the same side in a leverage battle with another entity. Friends become competitors quickly when there is no shared enemy. And old enemies can also suddenly become fast friends, when circumstances change.
The problem with national security, is its peacetime leverage is only as effective as your actual willingness to fight a war, even if both sides lose.
Ideally, then both players jointly avoid war.
But in the real world and history, surprising dynamics, contradictory local politics, or miscommunication, can all quickly or slowly lead to wars both countries lose.
The alternative, is consolidation in one country with effectively guaranteed national peace.
Which game do you choose, because in the real world, there is no game where both countries agree to never go to war credibly and solve everything with dice matches, or single handed combat between leaders.
Countries that seem to be reliable allies are almost always on the same side in a leverage battle with another entity. Friends become competitors quickly when there is no shared enemy. And old enemies can also suddenly become fast friends, when circumstances change.