The simple reason why China refuses to support Russia more forcefully on Ukraine:

[Vogon_Glory]

1. The Chinese are again players in the Great Game

Some of us older DU’ers have read of or heard about the Great Game, the rivalry between Czarist Russia and the British Empire to control the lands between the Urals and the Chinese borders.

The Chinese empire was also a player for many years until their wars with Japan and the threat of having China carved up by European powers took their attention away.

The game restarted with the collapse of the Soviet Union, although the Brits are no longer players. But the People’ Republic of China has taken the Manchus’ place and is in the game.