Growing up in the UK, I have had to live with the threat of terrorism thanks to the IRA. In Northern Ireland, once The Troubles ended, the peace dividend has helped communities. When I was in Sri Lanka, I saw how thanks to peace, how the infrastructure of the North of Sri Lanka was developed and how peace has made things better. Nations who gain through peace have less reason to resort to war.
China, which has developed its military might, has benefitted from peace. But it has its eyes on Taiwan. It has seen the response of Europe and the USA towards Russia when it invaded Ukraine (again) and the cost to the nation. But if the trade war between Trump and China escalates, we could see China being in a position where it has little to lose through western economic sanctions, if it decides to invade Taiwan.
There are other ways that China can retaliate towards the USA, but it may decide that it is nothing to lose if things continue to get worse.
