IF WE ONLY HAD LEADERSHIP SMART OR WILLING ENOUGH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE: Beijing’s Ukraine Balancing Act Reveals Exploitable Fissures in the Sino-Russian Partnership. “Going forward, Beijing will continue blaming Washington and its allies for provoking Russia while simultaneously calling for a diplomatic resolution. Expected worldwide economic disruptions following a Russian invasion, including shocks to energy and commodity markets upon which China depends to meet surging demand, will test the Sino-Russian partnership. A sustained global economic downturn could also undermine China’s ability to achieve its growth targets.”

Read the whole thing.