*The only ideology they share is a strongman ruler. In order to have deep, long-lasting ties, people should share languages or values. And on that score the Chinese and Russians may as well be on different planets.* I love it!
*The Chinese have the money and the know how to do it peacefully or so they are proving.* Why do it peacefully if the back door is wide open?
To do it military the losses would be horrendous like invading Taiwan, not acceptable. The Chinese military is all show, like their ghost cities and of the same construction quality.