Throughout its history, China has been a trading power first and foremost. Their usual modus operandi is to expand their power via trade and economic leverage, rather than via military force. Given that the war in Ukraine has dramatically increased Russia's dependence on China, there is no need for the Chinese to actually invade or physically conquer Russia - they already have them where they want them: at their mercy, with no other choice than to grant the Chinese cheap access to their vast natural resources. Why risk nuclear war just to formally claim some frozen shithole territory when you already have access to its natural resources anyway?
This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Mar 2 2023 08:47pm