[somecallitblues]

This is my take:

Since China has had US military bases in its backyard for the past 70 years it finally feels that it’s big enough to flax some muscle in Pacific. Hence they’re doing that shit in South China Sea. US empire naturally sees this as a threat to its colonies and interests in Pacific. In order to seam like it’s doing something about it is pushing the anti China propaganda to its population by imposing the tariffs and in turn it is filling its coffers which are somewhat lighter since it gave the tax cuts to big business. Of course it has positioned the tariffs as if China is giving them that extra 25% instead of letting the American consumer realise that they’re the ones who will eventually foot that bill through higher prices. There won’t be any war. Neither country can afford it. And China won’t do much about it. They just want to seam like they’re retaliating in front of their population.