Recent strategies are suggesting something is going on.
The attempts to submit Russia and China to the "corrupted democratic system of the West" have failed. Russia and China are not only surviving very well over the several economic sanctions imposed tothem, but are increasing their infuence all over around. China companies own 20% of Mercedes production at this moment... and German investors seem to be happy with it.
Japan is being used as Elmer's glue to form alliances, as very recently is happening.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-japan-security-alliance
The U.S.-Japan Security Alliance
The alliance with Japan has been the cornerstone of U.S. security policy in East Asia for decades. Now, Japan’s role in global security is growing as challenges from China and North Korea mount.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...-up-quad-cooperation-with-china-in-sight.html
Japan, Australia vow to step up Quad cooperation with China in sight
KYODO NEWS - Dec 12, 2021 - Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne have pledged to promote security cooperation of the Quad group, also including the United States and India, in response to China's rising assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The words of the senator are not as crazy as one must think.
Countries renewing and increasing military alliances are preventive measurements, but the way things are going, the Western countries already know they can control the minds of people and can start a war at any time and people will follow them.
If an attack is made against Russia or China, the response will be from those two countries together, because they have their own military alliance to fight together against any country. And there is no guarantee India and other Asian countries-besides Japan and South Korea- to keep their word to side with the West if a conflict happens against China and Russia. It will be understood they will prefer to maintain themselves neutral. Their populations will demand such neutrality to avoid bombs on their lands because a war that is not theirs.
Another worldwide war won't be by any means similar to the last one. Today, US still is "protected by the seas" for conventional methods of attacks, like ships and airplanes, but missiles have changed the whole scenario and many US cities might be destroyed by the enemies, something completely different to WW2.
Cold war is the current status until someone lites the fuse... then... run and hide under the table... it will be ugly...