Would allied naval strategy in a war with China focus on preventing power projection beyond China's neighborhood?
Short answerProbably. Older containment and bastion strategies offer useful starting points for restricting wider naval projection.
NotesA coalition would probably emphasize containing Chinese naval power close to its home region instead of seeking unrestricted battle everywhere. Older concepts for containing Japan or managing Soviet bastions offer useful starting points. The comparison concerns strategic geometry and initiative, while the historical opponents and technologies remain distinct. A coalition could accept an opponent's preference for protected operating areas, then choose when and where to contest access beyond them.