My guess is, just as with WWII, there would be significant ground fighting...major ground fioghting...if it ever got going in a big way, ie. WWIII. I believe every Islamic Fundamental regime, those regimes in S. America cozing up to the Chinese, and who knows whom else would jump in on one side or the other.
Not a pretty picturte at all...but sadly, unless we pull a Reagan style, in your face, challenege very soon that backs these people down...I am afraid it is shaping up that way, and pray most earnestly that I am wrong.
I still ponder the dream/vision which saw Japan being coerced into joining China. Might not be coercion if it were certain parts of their culture.
In any case, supposedly, China cedes Hawaii to the Japanese in thanks for their help in attacking the USA.