I agree with your first point. The US has essentially always been at war. It may not have changed it’s modus operandi, but it certainly has both accelerated and intensified. I, for one, don’t believe I can recall so many operations within the span of one year. Neither have they been done so brazenly. But such is nature of rising fascism.

I do stand firm in thinking the beast has transformed though. The empire is certainly in decline as you said (the inevitable outcome of an imperialist state). But I think that has turned the angry, hungry dog into a cornered angry, hungry dog.

Taking a step back for a moment, who could possibly say what the right course of action would be against something so wild and unpredictable?

All that being said, I don’t necessarily support dramatic action being taken by China (depending on your definition of such), but providing more support to nations that have good relations opens the possibility of providing them the means of prolonged resistance. This in turn would benefit China in the long run. If nothing else, it would buy them more time.