I'm no strategist, but if I remember correctly, China is importing a schidt ton of oil, out of the Gulf. To maintain any extended naval and air operations is a thirsty business. Enter stage left, India, no friend of China, with considerable naval forces able to control the Strait of Malacca, or sink enough Chinese tankers to make it a loser in a war of attrition. I see China, pushing, annoying, harassing, everything short of war...I don't see them taking Taiwan yet. Even with one of the biggest clowns in the circus, surrounded by a cabinet of lesser clowns. China plays the long game, generations long, only moving the chess piece when victory is assured.
