I don't think that is how it works in this game.
The idea is to play your cards or tiles in mahjongg and play it well.
No one controls the battlefield.
Right now, all the United States wants to do is play toy soldier, and put more toy soldiers into place.
Well, one counter to that, is to double down on the diplomacy and economic incentives.
If one side is only interested in playing toy soldier, and the other side wants to make more deals, then it kind of becomes do you want to plan for war or do you want peace and prosperity?
Sometimes, it is not about some grand plan.
See what is happening, and play the obvious, and see how it works out.
For the United States to go around saying the BRI is bad, when everyone wants that infrastructure investment, aka development is bad, and the United States going around wanting to play toy soldier, aka war is good, not sure how successful that will be in the short run or long run.
They might get a couple of photographs.
But when the China Coast Guard blocks a Philippines re-supply run, total lip services from those who play toy soldier.
China Coast Guard blocking re-supply runs is consistent with stated CCP policy, for friends we got fine wine, for jackals we got shotguns.