@gentoobro @p @lanodan @hj @Hoss @mangeurdenuage Russia’s entire population is less than two average Chinese provinces.
It is not an important market compared to the value of control of mineral resources in that mountainous region.
They can make that up elsewhere. They would have a way smaller border to defend, and Mongolia still acts as a buffer state. It would also settle the border dispute with Russia with a vengeance.