The countdown clock is on for the Chinese chess players to take full advantage during the remaining time of the Obama presidency. They will not let this opportunity slip away.
The Chinese have a consolidated, one purpose government without the “burdens” of a two party system - all intellictual, military might is under one common control. And they know American history with our form of government - when the stakes are really high, consensus and a determined response is nearly impossible to gain until the sh*t has already hit the fan. (reference WWI, and WWII.)
An additional factor is that China is holding several hundred BILLION in US paper, which MIGHT become worthless if they begin hostilities w/ US. Who knows what effect this might have?
DG