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After seeing how the US performed against the Taliban with trillions of dollars spent, good luck actually 'fighting' against China.

I would argue that the Taliban was different - a guerrilla battle (similar to Vietnam - which we also lost) rather than a direct conflict. I believe that the US, while not very good at the former, is still among the best at the latter - although I would rather not find that out through direct experience...

> similar to Vietnam - which we also lost

Vietnam wasn't lost militarily. It was lost politically due to the war's unpopularity.

If America had been able to win it quickly, then wouldn't the unpopularity not have mattered?

Will you enlist?

Why would anyone need to enlist? We have nukes, they have nukes, there won't be a massive ground war.

It won't be nukes.

It'll be the biggest naval / air / amphibious battle since the Pacific theater of WW2.

Just resolved a LOT faster.

or "frenemies". Analogous to most individuals' relationship with google. We get stuff for cheap, but give up our secrets.