I don't think you are right, and this is what I think everyone forgets: the huge Chinese population, five times ours, and far larger proportion of males (sex selected births). Every smart person we have, every bomber pilot we have, they have five.PRC is saber rattling pure and simple.
They will be unable to afford a conflict. If they wish to be just like Russia all they need do is engage America in a war. Russia is still wanting an opportunity to attack them and make them pay for their behavior...PRC hasn't stolen intellectual property from only America. Then there's how PRC behaved during Korean War. Stirring up conflict...
Our technology is superior and PRC will find out about embargoes and loss of ports and infrastructure immediately...they are much more vulnerable than the USA due to their junk bond crisis.
They will lose several trading partners who buy more than they sell...and they can't afford that.
They are on the verge of self destruction now...their only hope is to grow their economy to get out of their crisis. Evernote is only the tip of the iceberg.
I don't think they are just saber-rattling (that's North Korea) because this IS their opportunity, after all ----- they may not get another so good. They have thrown the world into total confusion by letting loose a pandemic on us all, they've been building their military up fast for years, and now WE have a prez who is weak ruling a nation way too divided to fight a war even if they were invading through Mexico! This is China's chance to take Taiwan, and I'm watching to see when they do it.