India,Japan and Australia are three countries that have good reason to look at China with deep concern.
We would do better to seek an alliance with India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore in the region and leave NATO in the ash heap of history. The Europeans are notorious for selling out allies, collaboration and appeasement.
Form an alliance and keep a joint allied naval presence in the South China Sea following international laws and ignoring Chinese complaints. This fleet could keep the Chinese constantly having to track it and we gather intel as to their capabilities as they track it and we irritate the chicoms to no end and we have a battle force present at all times in the South China Sea.