Read that last week, it's a about a future war between the US and the Chinese, it's bordering on sci-fi but interesting nonetheless and a good read.
Interestingly it posits a future where the US economy is in major trouble as the reason why the US Navy has been severely downsized, they had to do that since the current US Navy vs the current PLA Navy while horrific wouldn't be remotely a fair fight.
I don't think so unless nukes is all they had (ex. North Korea). The first side to threaten nuclear attack would be effectively declaring military defeat.
How does a military conflict between China and US even look like, I always thought it immediately escalates to nuclear war.