China using 'coercive' tactics in pursuit of territorial, maritime claims: Pentagon

"China's leaders use tactics short of armed conflict to pursue China's objectives. China calibrates its coercive activities to fall below the threshold of provoking armed conflict with the United States, its allies and partners, or others in the Indo-Pacific region," the Pentagon said on Tuesday in its annual report on China to the US Congress.

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/china-using-coercive-tactics-in-pursuit-of-territorial-maritime-claims-pentagon/articleshow/77885433.cms