Their navy is nowhere yet ready to fight a real war. Look at analysis of their fleet. Two aircraft carriers with limited capacity. But any war would have home court advantage with long-range missile support from the coast. That's the difference maker. Power projection beyond China's coast is currently impossible with their navy, and if there were a concerted allied operation, China's Navy would be unlikely able to handle battles on multiple fronts. But nobody wants war, China is banking on that. Look at how the world did nothing about Russia annexing the Crimea. Nobody wants war.