While Kremlin propaganda feeds Russians fairy tales about “great friendship” and “strategic partnership without limits,” Chinese media calmly discusses exactly how those limits will be redrawn. Not someday in the distant future — but when Russia collapses. And according to Chinese authors, preparations should begin now.
Fair, but also exactly what happens to empires in general when they stumble. That’s been true since the dawn of civilization, and for Russia herself in 1917, then in 1991.
Russia’s case is particularly bad, because outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, people seem to be very meh about being part of Russia, despite propaganda making it seem otherwise. I think we got the best indication of it when Wagner marched to Moscow without any significant resistance, cheered on by significant parts of the population.