Editor’s note for Thursday, December 30, 2021
A note from the editor of today's The China Project Access newsletter.

My thoughts today:
One of our predictions in the 2022 Red Paper was as follows:
Russia will invade Ukraine; China will offer silent support. The lack of an American response will embolden hawkish Chinese voices on Taiwan but not lead to any kinetic action.
Why is the invasion, according to many analysts, considered likely? And what would โsilent supportโ actually look like from Beijing?
Today, our top story is all about this subject, from Joe Webster, the editor of the China-Russia Report, an independent, nonpartisan newsletter covering political, economic, and security affairs within and between China and Russia.
We will be off tomorrow for New Yearโs Eve, and back in your inbox on Monday. Happy New Year!
Our word of the day is Ukraine (ไนๅ ๅ ฐ wลซkรจlรกn).
โLucas Niewenhuis, Newsletter Editor