China needs access to natural resources to run those production lines, and China itself is relatively resource poor. In the event of open war with the US, they

China needs access to natural resources to run those production lines, and China itself is relatively resource poor. In the event of open war with the US, they'd be mostly trying keep their supply lines open. Such a war would take place all over the world, rather than in China itself. We're more likely to see a nuclear conflict involving China if the Chinese leaders feel that resource needs make it necessary to seize Russian territory.