Surely it can't be clubbed exactly like a baby seal: baby seals are cute.
Perhaps clubbed like something that's uglier and helpless.
But then again, if it works closely with its friends, from arm's length, then it might do much better, especially if it's supported by ground-based and maritime helpers in the seas around to turn the tide of maneuverable, hostile but more visible adversaries.
On the third hand, why would China risk its adversaries defaulting on the debt they've issued to let them buy the F35s in the first place?