But little else suggests a less strident...请问如何理解这句话?

But little else suggests a less strident...请问如何理解这句话?
But little else suggests a less strident defence of China’s perceived sovereignty.Rather,to its south as to its east,China is asserting it in the water as well as on paper.
同时请在语法层面分析这句话,

little else：little,名词,意思是几乎没有什么（在这里理解为“迹象”）,做句子主语.else 是后置形容词,修饰 little.
a less strident defence of China’s perceived sovereignty：谓语动词 suggests 的宾语.其中,perceived sovereignty 是作者的中立说法,意思是中国认定的主权范围.
China is asserting it：it 指代前面的 strident defence of China’s perceived sovereignty.
in the water：指在海上
in the water as well as on paper：嘴上说的和实际做的一个样.
然而几乎无任何迹象显示中国会在捍卫自己的领土主权上降低声调.事实是,从南海到东海,中国都在实际海域上强势表达捍卫主权,而不仅仅是纸上谈兵.

谢谢解答