China Has a Big Ukraine Problem

When they met in Beijing just ahead of the Winter Olympics, did Vladimir Putin tell Xi Jinping he was planning to attack Ukraine?

If he didn’t, then Putin was deceptive. If he did, it’s hard to imagine Xi would have given him the green light: While the Chinese president has been sounding increasingly belligerent in recent years when it comes to Taiwan, he has yet to act recklessly. This year, Xi very much needs stability as he pushes for a third term in office, effectively a mandate to rule for life.