Post

I don't think so. I think it is likely a reaction to the Stormy Petrel announcement by Russia. It is just the neocons around Trump escalating the situation.

The timing is... suspicious. China is the nuclear laggard of the three apocalyptopowers. It wants to catch up, and has the technical and industrial means to do so, but probably needs to test its new tech. But it's invested a lot in portraying itself as good guy to America's putative evil empire. 2/

The US' negotiating position vis China is objectively bad, but people can find creative… sweeteners. /fin