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I read the whole piece and my take-away was - China, being very self-interested, will drop Putin at the first sign he's really losing. They need to decide fast

I read the whole piece and my take-away was - China, being very self-interested, will drop Putin at the first sign he's really losing. They need to decide fast and are very split, but it will happen sometime within the next two weeks.

bradhe 5y ago
To be more precise, the analysis suggests it’s optimal for it to happen within in the next two weeks. They could remain indecisive.
belter 5y ago
Using 2018 Statistics, The United States + EU + ASEAN + Japan represent 49% of China trading, Russia only 2%. The Partners above represent 53% of China exports and Russia only 1,9%. Even taking into account that other strategic considerations will of course guide China decisions, it is once more, another major strategic error on the part of the EU and the US not to use this as leverage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_trading_partners_of_China#List_of_largest_trading_partners_of_China https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_trading_pa...
blunte 5y ago
The article comes right out and says that Putin’s effort is a failure, short and long term. Only direct help from China could possibly change that outcome (and that involvement is presented as the less wise position for China to take regarding its self interest).