War would come suddenly— I believe this is how it will work out:
1. China moves on another nation (Vietnam?)
2. US sends ships
3. In a mix-up there is a battle at sea—US Carrier is sunk.
4. Chinese attack Pearl Harbor and San Diego with nukes
5. Demands that Japan close all US Bases and stay neutral.
6. China and North Korea attack South Korea
7. China rolls into Vietnam—The Vietnamese win some victories but once Haiphong falls it will be over. Troops from USA will help with battle to hold HoChiMen City—but it will fail.
8. a move on Thailand (It will join China) and Taiwan.
9. US will nuke Shanghai and Canton.
10. China will nuke San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta and New York.
11. Treaty of peace signed—cost 100,000 lives on both sides.
First move is to sow confusion by subverting massive amounts of computer managed utilities and communications operations. Everything has some component functions off-loaded to remote management, without a viable local paper based fall-over for continuity. The confusion would take months to sort out.