"I think the US has shown so far that it's not going to easily bend to such threats"
This is a cliche problem with these "great power" games. On one hand, neither side can publicly "bend." OTOH, public statements and/or implications that "we'll make them bend" are politically popular.^
Concessions are only possible when the volume of disputes are muted. Once they become national pride issues, or leaders put their own image on the line.... At that point, it's no longer about commodities or tariffs or whatnot. It's about winning.
^China is not a democracy, but that does not mean they don't have politics or that public perception is less important.
This is a cliche problem with these "great power" games. On one hand, neither side can publicly "bend." OTOH, public statements and/or implications that "we'll make them bend" are politically popular.^
Concessions are only possible when the volume of disputes are muted. Once they become national pride issues, or leaders put their own image on the line.... At that point, it's no longer about commodities or tariffs or whatnot. It's about winning.
^China is not a democracy, but that does not mean they don't have politics or that public perception is less important.