If USA loses, it wont be because China and Russia were smarter, but because Americans elect defensive idiots such as Trump. If you look at Trump's foreign policy plans, they always include giving Russia, China and North Korea exactly what they want, like signing peace in Ukraine by giving Russia territory, basically rewarding Russia instead of punishing it.
USA has come from a long way of destroying its enemies, like it destroyed Axis in WW2, it destroyed Soviet Union which was far greater and more powerful than Russia is today. USA did that not by being peaceful and giving enemies territory, but by attacking them from all angles, both turning their own people against them, and preventing them from spreading such as by destroying Soviets in Afghanistan and South Korea. If USA was seeking peaceful solutions at that time, then today we would have Soviet Union controlling the world and USA would be insignificant on a world scale. So from practical experience, USA must stick to successful strategies of the past and not fall victim of peaceful mentality which would help Russia. When an enemy attacks your allies, thats really not a time to be peaceful unless you want to help the enemy.