[Grakel]

I don't know why any large country would invade instead of just slowly, secretly buying the smaller country and it's power over a decade or two. Take China and Taiwan, or this situation in Ukraine. Even a heavy handed economic hostile takeover would be ignored by the other world powers because no individual politician wants to be responsible for starting the fighting. Eventually you own everything, you've moved a ton of citizens in, you've bought all the politicians with puppet corporations. Then they vote to join your wonderful nation.

[skinnymuch]

Isn’t this going to cost a ton of money, too much, and you can only move in so many of your own citizens. Russia can’t move too many of their own since Ukraine doesn’t have a small population. Voters still vote. Not sure why even with puppets, a majority vote to join your country would happen.

[andy_jensen]

It will also cost a lot to get hit by 'enormous sanctions' plus it wouldn't really be a cost as opposed to a long term investment. China is currently investing heavily in the African infrastructure and I doubt Chinas intentions are philanthropically motivated

[skinnymuch]

China’s total Africa investments are not that high compared to the scenario of the parent to infiltrate Ukraine that way. The issue of where the population of people to move to Ukraine doesnt work either.

[Grakel]

A military invasion costs more, especially if it doesn't go well. Better to buy, bribe, and bully.

[skinnymuch]

I responded to a comment saying to pack Ukraine with Russians from Russia. That’s an incredibly expensive endeavor in every way. Russia doesn’t have that many people. Ukraine isn’t a low population country.