Hmm you may be right about China's motives and a possible uneasy alliance between the 3. I would like to think that China thinks in long term consequences instead of short term gain that USA tends to display. However, we may never know what the true relationship there is.
As for the China's reliance on coal; we must not forget this country is trying to provide an additional 1.4 billion people a middle class lifestyle. Who are we to deny them the material conditions many in the west enjoy? From what I understand coal is China's response to the failings of renewable/sustainable energy. Coal is still only 1% of Chinese energy grid(corrected by Doomsider below), they just need so much power and coal can be mined domestically. Unfortunately, modern human life may not be compatible with a healthy planet?