In a sense I feel like China should've done more, like a high level statement publicly pressuring America to end the war would have helped a lot with the Suez moment optics
Feels like China is not fully taking advantage of the situation to enhance the perception of power flowing from America to China
Now I'm worried American propaganda is going to be strong enough to make people just forget about this whole misadventure
China’s strategy is far more nuanced and expansive than the American-level simpleton play of trying to fuck with opfor at every possible opportunity irrespective of the costs and consequences.
China’s priority isn’t even to defeat and damage America, rather it’s to manage America’s decline.
China actually did plenty during the Iran War, but that was to try to create ladders and outs for Trump to climb down and avoid feeling like he was cornered and had nothing left to loose.
Contrary to popular belief, China doesn’t mind the current world order and rules and is in no massive rush to change it because it’s dominating the great game. America is literally loosing the shirt off its back to China, so is it any wonder China is happy to keep playing?
It’s the equivalent of someone who is dominating on the poker table and the spoilt rich frat boy who is rapidly loosing his entire inheritance is openly threatening to flip the table and shank everyone else. The smart play isn’t to help him flip the table so you can get into a knife fight with him, it’s to keep him just calm enough he doesn’t flip out while you continue taking him for all he is worth while also discreetly getting your own gun ready.
But alas a world war between China and America (make no mistake, any direct significant military clash between the two superpowers will mean a new world war) will be profoundly costly and damaging to all and sundry. I dare say every person on earth will be directly affected, the overwhelmingly of which will be negatively, and probably devastatingly so for many if not most of us. So I’m glad China is being the responsible adult here and not rushing headlong into that war for the sake of pride or anger. China is gearing up for the fight, and in a more massive and comprehensive way than most would imagine or even believe, but it’s very much as a contingency measure instead of a primary plan, and we should all be eternally grateful for that restraint.