If you put on the thinking cap, the catalyst for the whole mess is the Saudi-Iranian truth brokered by China earlier this year. The Chinese leadership are literally playing Go here -- the placing of a single strategic piece has made the Chinese position "alive" once again. Think about the relative cost the US has to spend due to that single move -- additional concessions to placate Saudi Arabia/UAE, military aid to Israel to combat the latest offensive, etc. Versus what it cost China -- an expensive dinner gala in Beijing. All that money and resource that could otherwise be used to contain China and stir up shit in East Asia must now be directed not only to Europe, but the Middle East.