You are probably very right, I agree with all of your points. However, this is what I meant by "rational within his ideology". He created this situation by surr

You are probably very right, I agree with all of your points. However, this is what I meant by "rational within his ideology". He created this situation by surrounding himself with bootlickers and punishing any differing opinions. He effectively built an information bubble for himself and he may act rational within that bubble but totally irrational for anyone outside of it - even players like China who won't publicly state that. After all, their benefit is breathtaking.