Still not in focus is the recent railroad system being planned and built from China to Iran or the other way round. This is NOT for commercial purposes but for military transport. Troop and military equipment movement from China to the Middle East will be easier by rail though this is open to sabotage.
Add that to your analysis mix.
That’s also my theory on why we have been reluctant to go after Iran and Syria. I believe the next major war in the middle east, and we are seeing the opening stages of it, will not stay confined to the middle east. If we went after Iran it would not surprise me in the least to see China go after Taiwan, or North Korea to target Japan. We would suddenly find ourselves with a world at war. I think we are much closer to an endgame than most people realize.