Also, minor point, Japan holds more Treasuries than China.
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/040115/reaso...
If someone tries to destroy your country you just say no. “Sorry china, we aren’t paying lmao”
And then they can’t do shit. Then you embargo them for being aggressive and destroy their country.
They could sell the debt that they currently hold, sure. The response would likely be a short term rise in interest rates followed by the Fed simply intervening and purchasing Treasurys.
1. https://www.thebalancemoney.com/who-owns-the-u-s-national-de...
And we could sanction the PBoC and freeze the accounts into which we repay the debt they hold. The China-owns-our-debt line ignores the realities of sovereign debt.