The US has thrown a significant portion of its overseas offensive power against Iran - including a substantial percentage (reportedly 20%-40%)of various important weapons systems (Patriot, Tomahawk, super bunker busting bombs, etc.).

Our adversary had an antique air force and a few capital weapons which were quickly neutralized and is left with "asymmetrical" drones, speedboats and missiles. Yet, they are able to hold us to a stalemate while being low-tech and militarily inferior.

Now, let's look at a parallel scenario where China decides to goggle up Taiwan. Also involves a strait and a temptation to us the US navy. But China is (at least) a technologic peer as well as a military one which can bring far more resources to bear on that territory than we can. The point is doubtless familiar to our professional military personnel. Hopefully alto to our politicians and appointed officials.

What is potentially holding China back is not the military prowess of the US, but the recent demonstrations in Yemen, Gaza, Ukraine and even Iran indicating the beating a population can endure and still withstand a siege (to the point that any asset desired would be rubble by the time it was taken).

Jeff