[Georgelemental]

> If China or Israel attacks someone, nobody says "we can't respond to it because it would start a nuclear war."

Actually, I (and most of the world) don't want to start a nuclear conflict with China or Israel either.

[epistasis]

Nobody wants to start a nuclear war, that's my point. But it is only when dealing with Russia that some people say, "we can't do anything in response to their aggression" whereas with China or other nuclear powers, nations can respond to aggression without the threat of nuclear war.

Its a difference in the character of the countries, and it implies that Russia is far more dangerous than China, and that there must be a vigorous international collaboration to contain Russia's apparent aggression.