What, sanctions? The US is totally reliant on China for manufacturing. You'd grind the West, and China, to a halt.

We can start with the US publicly blaming China for the attacks. Public consciousness does a lot by itself.

So we roll over to a bully?

One can still use a hammer even if I break his kneecaps with it beforehand.

China is just as reliant on the West as the West is reliant on China. The use of that as leverage doesn't have to be limited to one side of that equation.