wretchard and RAH, thank you for your analysis, it’s very logical and educational.

You couldnt be more right about China. Russian actions are of profound stupidity in the long run. It has just alienated the entire Western world and US because of it’s imperial habits and insecure psyche, while Russia’s main concern should be China. As much as its concerned about it’s spheres of influence, that it sees as all but lost to the West (hence to current action), Chinese do not threaten Russian spheres of influence, they threaten Russia itself and Russia has just show them how: go in to “protect their citizens” after starting a small hullaballoo.