I think it’s more about productive power. The US can’t produce rare earths in any meaningful quantities on its own, it can’t even make magnets. So, rebuilding these lost aircraft isn’t just a question of throwing money at the problem. You need to actually be able to manufacture stuff too, and that’s where the US lacks capacity.

And besides, the Strait is only closed if you’re don’t have the balls to just sail through.

perhaps the most surprising part