> If china has simply said no to war and put a stop to the ukraine war, china wouldbe doing so much better today. This has it backwards. Assuming China envisio

> If china has simply said no to war and put a stop to the ukraine war, china wouldbe doing so much better today. This has it backwards. Assuming China envisions a strong sphere of influence over Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, which is a vision in conflict with the US sphere of influence over that region, their ability to manifest that vision directly benefit from conflicts that draw down US readiness. How far they get to exploit that conflict depends on other factors, including who presides over the next US administration, but in respect to this long-term vision they're in a better position for there being a war in Ukraine than not and so are invested in making it longer and more treacherous for Europe. And you see exactly that in their interactions with Russia.