The biggest takeaway from their chart is that culture clash leads to war and bigger, more powerful countries have more noticeable wars. In addition, their chart

The biggest takeaway from their chart is that culture clash leads to war and bigger, more powerful countries have more noticeable wars. In addition, their chart of things that didn't result in war is mostly inaccurate. Japan vs USSR was never actually a real idea because Japan didn't have an army. USSR knew the actual battle would be against the USA. USA vs UK never existed because there wasn't a culture clash (and their focus of power was a bit different). UK, Germany, and France don't clash today because their cultures are closer than they've ever been and because they perceive a shared foreign threat in Asia. Thus we're left with the only war that never happened being USA vs USSR -- a war that didn't happen due to self-preservation. It seems most probable that USA vs China fits into the same category as USA vs USSR where self-preservation will keep war from actually happening. I don't think any reasonable person trusts a losing government to NOT use weapons of mass destruction -- especially when the first one to use them wins. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission (that happens when you're the last superpower standing).