Regardless of whether you believe the China narrative is true or not (that is to say, whether China will actually do this or not), it is driving US policy.

Well, these guys have literally been saying the same crap for 30 years, so it’s a good bet they are full of it.

You’re reading a lot into the US right now. US policy in 2025 is more about which member of the whack pack is the alpha gorilla than anything else.