I just don't think that it has any chance of success. The Chinese are obsessed with the idea of "saving face" and preserving their reputation, but "asserting dominance" through military show of force is not how you embarrass them. Economic sanctions, while an extremely ineffective measure against countries willing to starve their people, that aren't dependent on the US, such as North Korea, would be extremely effective against a rising economy like China. Economic pressure works with them, that's why we're enacting sanctions against them for their support of NK.

I'm glad I'm not speaking to a wall though, thank you for your comment.