It's not pentagon, it's just how we would simulate the war be fought.
China need Iron, Copper, Aluminium, Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Hydrogen etc, the thing is, it's not just what they need is the problem, it's the volume that China need, Russia cannot ramp up production of oil and iron ore (and Russia only have low grade Iron Ore you can't make steel with anyway) Not to mention the only way the resource can flow into China in any signicant number is by ship from Overseas, either in Africa, South America or Australia. So if you strangle trade route, you are strange their production, you then strange their economy, either domestic or war economy.
Having dominated the key mineral sectors of zinc and rare earth elements, China has shifted focus over the past five years to battery metals through developing and acquiring new lithium projects and securing supply chains for its manufacturing sector.
www.spglobal.com
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On the other hand, what you want is to win, it does not matter how you win, you just need to and again, if putting blockade in outlying area win a war, then why not?? It's not like you need some epic battle to win a war, if I can win a war without firing even a shot, I think majority of us would take that chance, don't you think?