What's that phrase??? When you owe someone a little money you are a debtor. When you owe someone a lot of money you become a partner. Is this what you are getting at? If so, we agree. Unfortunately, things get pretty sticky when your new partner also happens to be you biggest strategic enemy.
When China can squeeze Taiwan out of world trade it can control that nation economically and then politically. And when China can use the threat of a nuclear North Korea to launch a war at the time most favorable to both nations (i.e., when China invades Taiwan, if the US tries to aid Taiwan), it can freely launch its new Anschluss with little fear of effective opposition from Taiwan, the US or a cowed Japan.