We have so poorly weighed the benefit/risk factor. We have been in the mideast for nearly 16 years now, and it has only gained us more chaos and death there. We have gained not one benefit for our blood. I loathe thinking about getting mixed up with a country like China, given how we are fighting wars these days.
But always remember that old saw..you seldom get to "pick" the wars you have to fight. We can pretend that China taking over all of "their half" of the world isn't of concern to us (and people like Chris will always vigorously pretend exactly that) , and I double-guarantee you that is exactly what we will do as a country too, but those chickens always come home to roost eventually.