Even then, China’s restrictive control over its own business sector and market may give it an edge over foreign free market nations. Military threats from abroad are unlikely to intimidate Chinese officials; if anything, foreign sabre-rattling would just make China more obstinate. The only thing that might have an effect on China involves its economy, via the international marketplace.

Maybe some securely allied nations combining their resources could go without the usual Beijing trade or investment tether they’d prefer to sever, instead trading necessary goods and services between themselves and other interested non-allied, non-China-bound economies.

Then, again, maybe such an alliance has already been covertly discussed but rejected due to Chinese government strategists knowing how to “divide and conquer” potential alliance nations by using economic or political door wedges custom-made for each nation. Perhaps every country typically placing their own economic and big-business bottom line interests foremost may always be their, and therefore collectively our, Achilles’ heel to be exploited by nations with huge markets like China.

Frank Sterle Jnr, British Columbia, Canada