It's harder for America, since they want to maintain their "global hegemony".
It's easier for China, because we don't want global hegemony, we just want to break America's global hegemony.
I don't think America has the guts to risk a nuclear war, they had many chances, but they always backed down. Which means they cannot hold on to their hegemony.
Regardless, we need to induct hundreds of HGV strategic weapons as soon as possible. You're right, a cornered animal is the most dangerous. Instead of cornering them we should give them chances to escape (back out and save face), and they will take the chance to escape.