Russia thought they had the ideal solution--point China at America with weapons sales uniquely useful for a naval campaign but not very relevant for a land campaign north.
China has gone along with this purchasing plan. Until now (tip to 1913 intel) :
Chinese wheeled APCs and 100mm self-propelled guns involved in Peace Mission 2007 had trouble operating over rugged terrain at the Russian 34th Motorized Rifle Division's training facility near Chebarkul in the Urals region.
Their suspension probably featured substandard steel and therefore was not dependable enough for crossing numerous moats and potholes. Consequently, the Chinese army would be quite happy to obtain the relevant know-how for manufacturing top-quality steel.
But Russia said that the Chinese proposals are excessive and even dangerous. Many officials at Russian security agencies are afraid the sale of high-tech offensive weapons, namely, tanks, anti-tank guided missiles, tactical missiles and hard-hitting Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to Beijing would impair the defense capability of the Russian armed forces, primarily its units stationed in the Far East and the Baikal region.
I hoped China would seek these capabilities to get them looking away from Taiwan and the Pacific. It looks like China is seeking to gain land warfare capabilities, perhaps without our nudging.
And as I've noted before, like the USSR and the Kaiser's Germany before them, China may find that trying to be a dominant land and sea power at the same time is too much to accomplish--and will achieve neither in the end.
Moscow thought it was a great idea to aim China at us. Of course, Russia could still lose an eye playing this game. They should be careful where they point those things.
