Well, they may not try to take Taiwan if it so compromises their exports. But the way things are going, and with the massive amounts of trade involved, will an enbargo on Chinese trade be viable? It will definitely affect economies the world over, if ever imposed. The volumes of trade are phenomenal to be suddenly disrupted.
One would think that Japan would side with the US in any confrontation with China.
I think Chinese economic expansion has been part and parcel of a Chinese Homeland Defence program for years.
China is paranoid (as were the Soviets). For whatever reason they think that their neighbors are threats (maybe they remember the 1930’s?). Anyway, one of the best ways to secure your position is to make it economically unviable to attack you. One of the surest ways to invite attack is to disrupt the economy of a powerful country. China is going from third world hellhole to major economic power primarily as a defensive measure.
As for the “economy as defence” plan, why do you think we haven’t kicked Saudi Arabia’s butt? Or at least put them on alert that we will, like we did with Quadaffi? When many of the terrorist in the world claim to be Saudi, when the #1 terrorist in the world is Saudi, why do we treat them so nice?