China plays by the Sun Tzu 'Art of War' rules. They will win it before any shot is fired, or that's what they would plan. I've heard stories they have access to our grids and have the ability to shut down the eastern seabord's access to electricity if push comes to shove. This is all speculative rumors from sites that claim to be in the know but I'd believe it frankly.
America has let things happen because of greed. In the '90s Clinton allowed US companies, many of whom have products with security and military applications, the government has continually found spies in a variety of industries. It's assumed that Tik Tok has a back door access. The top American universities with security and military level research like MIT, Cal Tech, University of Chicago have let in a lot of Chinese national students. They have also been bought off. These universities which have been instrumental in NASA, space, rocket, propulsion, advancements have accepted 1000s of dollars from Chinese front companies to fund research with the proviso that they get access to any new developments. China has also stolen many military secrets. They have stealth capability from stolen access. Russia as well. The one country that has the most top secret info that it has stolen is Israel. The US isn't as bothered because they are allies.
I've said before, neither country would do a land invasion of the other. It's a non starter. Neither country can win a land war. A war would have to be in a 3rd country like it did in north Korea or by proxy as it has done (Vietnam war). America isn't going to militarily defend Taiwan either. The people wouldn't go for it. America used up all its domestic support for any war that doesn't directly threaten the continent from 20 years of Iraq and Afghanistan. No way the people are going for it again. The strange thing is its the Democrats that have been pro war (Syria), Ukraine with the exception being Iran (Republicans).