Let's watch the steely eyed chess master Putin work his magic on the world stage, eh?
While the current focus is on Taiwan, analysts with broader vision watch the humble deference Putin is showing to Xi out of necessity.
It’s not too soon to wonder about the future of the Russian Far East – parts of which have a Chinese ethnic majority – in the event of a collapsed or badly weakened regime in Moscow. Given Xi’s clear intent to unify China and the Chinese, including Taiwan and elsewhere, it’s to be hoped that the right people in the Pentagon and elsewhere are already thinking about this.
I've certainly raised the issue. And wondered if Putin's war against Ukraine is making Russia a more promising target for restoring territory taken in the "Century of Humiliation" than Taiwan.
I've even noted Russia's policy of appeasement of China to protect Russia's Far East as an interim strategy while Russia rebuilds its military.
And despite my revulsion for what Russia has reverted to under Putin, I raised a potential American Army role in helping Russia hold that territory against China in this Military Review article.
Putin keeps winning NATO recruiter of the year awards.
The failure of Russia's army to quickly crush Ukraine as promised will harm Putin in the high-stakes game of Russian politics even if he manages to defeat Ukraine's army and "only" have to shift to a counter-insurgency campaign.
And to put the tasty stupid icing on the tasty stupid cake, Putin is alienating the West even as Putin wrecks his military with a still rising China looming over Russia's Far East--which was taken from China in the 19th century.
Bravo.
Seriously, Russia under Putin is Russia's worst enemy.
I wonder when the naturally paranoid Russian society will turn their suspicious gaze on Putin himself.
Really, Russia can't hope for rescue from the West if China exploits Russia's face plant in Europe, as that initial author speculates:
A badly weakened Russia, potentially newly free and democratic in that scenario, might ask to join Nato as well.
Even before Putin initiated the Winter War of 2022, there was no way NATO would extend its defense guarantee to the Amur River to deter China when many members don't think of the Suwalki Gap as a reason to fight.
And after the brutal and destructive war, Russia can't even count on the kind of support that non-NATO member Ukraine has gotten from NATO.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
