This is a scenario I’ve pondered. Not as an excuse for the USA, but as a sure what if? Say Russia decides their new hypersonic system, that new nuclear torpedo

This is a scenario I’ve pondered. Not as an excuse for the USA, but as a sure what if? Say Russia decides their new hypersonic system, that new nuclear torpedo, and their newest tanks are ready, and they decide the odds of WW3 are in their favour, and they annex the entire Ukraine, or the unrest in Kazakstan turns into an occupation and pseudo-annexation with the government taking orders from Russia in order to keep Russian troops maintains order, betting the USA/NATO won’t pull the trigger. Ok, so this probably provokes a reaction, and simultaneously emboldens China, making the move immediately doesn’t make sense but it’s likely to encourage them to begin a buildup. If “full out” fighting begins in the former Soviet states does this represent the opportunity to launch a flash invasion? What tools do China have to rapidly deploy their forces? Do they need to soften up the entire island or can they pull off “D-Day, Blitzkrieg remix, Feat. China” with the first major action being troops on the beach within the same hour they hit coastal defences? It’s an interesting scenario from a game theory and war planning standpoint, and one I suspect the USA is gaming out a lot lately.