Steve, if you thought that it was scaremongering, then that's what you should have said in your first post, rather than posting a somewhat snide comment.

OK, seeing as you asked, here are my first thoughts on the matter (but please note, I have not given it deep consideration):

I tend to agree with BWM that there will not be a direct shooting was between the US and China. More likely would be a proxy war where each sides provides the resources for a third party country to be ripped apart. Both sides would feel justified that they were 'helping' the victims to resist an aggressor. Who the victims will be, remains to be seen.

DC