You did when you said that China would simply board other countries vessels or use fake pirates to steal from them if pivoted trade away from them.

Yeah, but it would be on the US to prove it was the People's Liberation Army Navy boarding ships, wouldn't it? Like the totally-not-NATO Ukrainians putting Putin on the back foot.

And again, you can avoid these "pirates" so long as you pay China an "escort fee". But the Big GAE's ego won't allow it.

I know the US has gotten used to being exempt from war crimes, but we're not the only ones who can play that game.

The South China Sea is one of the world's major fisheries and trade routes. I'm sure you understand that the struggle for dominance in the Pacific isn't about trash toys.

And China will keep it safe for itself and its allies. No America needed.

Sure, it'll wreak havoc on our consumption economy and trigger hyperinflation, but that's our problem, not theirs.