I am starting to feel that some galaxy brains believe that the PRC is gaining an upper hand in its assault on the free world after the middle school dropout's visit to Moscow.  No, the CCP has to be increasingly nervous about the situation in Ukraine which can be an existential threat. The Russian invasion does wear the free world standing with Ukraine and may incur further internal divisions.  All good for the PRC. The problem for the PRC is the risk of Russian disintegration, or even worse, becoming a free country after deposing the dictator. Let's see the worst scenario for the free world first: Russia temporarily defeats Ukraine and takes Kyiv to put up a puppet gov as a result of dwindling international support for Ukraine. The chance for this worst scenario is close to zero. Even if it happens, Ukraine will just becomes the 2nd Afghanistan for Russia. Bloody insurgent fights will drive out Russia eventually but incur far greater damage to Russia than Afghanistan did to t...