China is a major exporter and ultimately should not alienate the global community that supports its economy by threatening its neighbors with aggressive military maneuvers.  Russia is a good example of a strong country that severely damaged its ties with the West and has suffered economically.  In the age of mutually assured destruction, no super power is really looking to start a hot war with another super power.  Hyping up external threats to increase nationalist fervor may serve the Chinese political system, but could have dangerous consequences.