But handled correctly, the task is not intractable. One does not need to be a modern-day Neville Chamberlain to recognise that it is only natural for China to seek increased military muscle to match its growing economic clout. Japan provides a telling example of how, without credible military projection, even economically potent states struggle to gain influence.

Two decades of double-digit spending have transformed Beijing's military capabilities: it now possesses a large and increasingly sophisticated submarine fleet, a Russian-built airforce, and vastly improved ballistic, satellite and cyber-warfare capabilities.

The trick for the US is to ease China into supporting common goals, which is, after all, akin to Beijing's stated ambition of peaceful emergence. In that context, the resumption of a high-level US-Sino military dialogue – suspended because of Beijing's anger at US arms sales to Taiwan – is very welcome. Childish rhetoric about Taiwan must now be put aside.