> While there’s no way to know what Xi is thinking
Well we can listen to his speeches, read the policy direction, observe the actions maybe? The concept of Chinese inscrutability is centuries old trope, rehashed again for an audience thirsty for a bit of orientalism 2.0.
> China’s long-established pattern of behavior suggests that, as Russia redirects border security units to a grinding conflict in Ukraine, it is worth considering if China might be mulling expansionist contingencies to the north, along the sprawling and sparsely held 2,615 mile Russian frontier
Long established behaviour? Invading Russia? There was a border skirmish over an island in the middle of the river during the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960's. Over 50+ years ago. Hasn't been any hint from either side of any desire to change the border, despite significant regime changes from Cold War Soviet Union, Gorbachev Petrestroika, Yeltsin neoliberalism and now Putin's Putinism. The Russia / China border - the longest in the world incidentally - is stable, and this is highly upvoted fantasy
Well we can listen to his speeches, read the policy direction, observe the actions maybe? The concept of Chinese inscrutability is centuries old trope, rehashed again for an audience thirsty for a bit of orientalism 2.0.
> China’s long-established pattern of behavior suggests that, as Russia redirects border security units to a grinding conflict in Ukraine, it is worth considering if China might be mulling expansionist contingencies to the north, along the sprawling and sparsely held 2,615 mile Russian frontier
Long established behaviour? Invading Russia? There was a border skirmish over an island in the middle of the river during the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960's. Over 50+ years ago. Hasn't been any hint from either side of any desire to change the border, despite significant regime changes from Cold War Soviet Union, Gorbachev Petrestroika, Yeltsin neoliberalism and now Putin's Putinism. The Russia / China border - the longest in the world incidentally - is stable, and this is highly upvoted fantasy