[wobbleblob]

It was just an example, I don't have any special insight into the China-Taiwan situation. Maybe the conflict would be over a TV show, or a sports match, who knows. It just occurs to me that if there's a situation where we cut China off, or China cuts us off, we would be in the situation Germany is in now.

China would stand to lose a lot of money in that situation, but our economy would be severely disrupted as well. Russia is showing that for a totalitarian regime, losing a lot of money may not necessarily be a complete show stopper. They could make that choice and decide it's worth it, if they don't have to worry about the polls and are able to shape the narrative their own population gets to see.

[scyzoryk_xyz]

Putin and his circle endorse a culture of violence. They have stayed in power by keeping Russians in a state of terror. If anything they find it much easier to maintain their grip on power in this state of war and conflict, than in a state of peace. These people are actual gangsters - in their worldview they should be waging some sort of brutal war, otherwise who is going to be afraid of them at home?

I think the fears you have assume that the people in power in China have this villainous desire for violence just for it's own sake. But we're talking about the communist party and career politicians here. China has a 10+ year head start with their belt and road initiative. This is where they have an upper hand - it would be stupid to switch to military confrontation.