---As for China's economic clout, just remember who owns well over half of the US debt, since the last Japanese budget scramble. China can pull an economic widowmaker on the United States by calling in on it's loans.---

Speaking of ---cloud cuckoo land--- is that the place you visited while sleeping through Econ 101?

Do you know the definition of market value? How about the concept of supply and demand?

China sent the USA real, tangible assets in the form of materials, goods, and some services. What did China get? China got paper currency. What happens when a market is flooded with a good (supply exceeds demand)? Well, the price falls dramatically and quite quickly. What does this mean?

This means your little ---economic widowmaker--- is just that: FOR CHINA as dumping their supply of treasury notes, bonds, and all other securities on the market would drop the price to near nothingness.

Translation: China would have traded HARD, TANGIBLE, VALUABLE goods and services for what the equivalent of TOILET PAPER.

Keeping in mind the fact that China-s primary currency is still pegged to the Dollar (which I remind you is the world-s reserve currency) this would be the single fastest way to watch all of China-s wealth melt away so fast you could measure the downfall with an egg timer.

I am not saying this will not hurt the USA; hyper inflation seems inevitable at the current rate Congress treats the US taxpayer/piggy bank, but I am saying this will hurt China FAR MORE than it will hurt the USA (given a whole host or problems China enjoys while the USA does not).

---As for a trade embargo, well yes that will hurt China. But the Chinese people are a lot more prepared for and used to coping with hardship than even the average American.---

This is very true; the hardest time any American can remember is living with out a job and rationing food. The hardest time the Chinese can recall is a time when the Government-s incompetence cause the widespread starvation of TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

What relevance this has on MODERN DAY CHINA, I have no clue. People are people and once people get used to running water and electricity, doing with out will prove detrimental to any sitting government (regardless of the nation). You can bank of that.

---The loss of half it's exports due to the USA will not destabilise the PRC, it will do the opposite- galvanising the fiercely nationalistic Chinese people against a common enemy.---

So all those Chinese who are starving to death because they are out of work, who just had their life savings wiped out and who basically have nothing to live for will do, what, exactly?

---As for US Naval attacks on Chinese imports, dream on mate.---

People have been underestimating the USA for over 200 years and I see the trend endures to this day.

--- I mean fine, the USA has the world's best navy- you can talk about that all you like, just remember to keep a kleenex handy for when you're done.---

I do not need Kleenex; I prefer a moist towel when thinking of the USA-s navy and my families illustrious history in the United States Navy serving in the Civil War, Spanish American War, First World War, and Second World War.

---But no US administration would willingly start World War 3.---

I would not put money on that given some of the characters the USA has elected to the office of President.

---Because if you go after those oil supplies that's what you're doing, and China will respond with the scenario recently envisaged in the US wargames centred over the invasion of Taiwan, where "red team" shoots down US satellites which outside of cloud cuckoo land is nearly impossible to stop, and then proceeds to defeat or inflict critical losses on US forces defending Taiwan, relatively uncoordinated without their technology.---

Recall what I said about underestimating the United States? You just did it again.

The USN did just fine for 200 years with out satellite technology and they possess the power today to fight a war with out such toys.

---Then after that, the gloves are off, and you'e got to think what Japan, Russia, and India will do. I'm not saying it looks great for China, but by week two US will be derided by it's allies, humiliated over it's first loss of a major pitched battle since the war of 1812, and having to chose between being paupered by it's debts being called in, or a self imposed exile form the world econmoic system which would be just as bad.---

I suppose the American Civil War never happened... Your horrible history aside, none of the powers you listed would take too kindly to China when the -gloves are off- and would act in their own interests (which, in this case happen to be one and the same with that of America).

---But China wouldn't be stupid enough to let a war start, they're far smarter than that and playing a long, long game.---

You make many assumptions and assertions. Perhaps you should rethink this strategy.