Containing China effectively will require a high degree of cooperation between Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, and the Philippines. Those nations don't necessarily get along, and some of them are autocratic themselves.

Asia is helpful but Europe is essential.

We initiated a trade war with China a few years ago. The idea that this move was done "quietly" is a Reuter's joke.

You missed the most important one. India. But yea I don’t see Oceania uniting anytime soon.

What’s going to happen with the demographics in China?

China's population is starting to decline this year (if I'm not mistaken) but from a high of quite a lot. More importantly when are they going to put Winnie the Pooh out to pasture? It's very little about the Chinese people and much more about the current leadership. Where's Deng Xiaoping when you need him?

> China (and Russia's) disadvantage is that they are autocratic nations that don't play nicely with others. The West's advantage is its alliances.

China and Russia may not get along with each other or the West, but both have expended extensive effort building influence against the West and each other, and have their own extensive network of relationships to leverage.

The West’s advantage is productivity.

> China has a quarter of the world's population

1.4/7.8 < 18%

> The West's advantage is its alliances.

What's the practicality of that? It's not like the rest of the US is dealing less with China because it's less allied with them in the ways that really matter like business or trade.