Many analysts on the US side are arguing conversely, pointing out that it was China's undoing of the previous gains.
Plenty of analysts, including Americans, argue that improvement in US-China relations depends on the United States adjusting its behavior to accommodate
asiatimes.com
I look at it from people's perspective, as I no longer believe in the realist focus on the state/ government only.
If people did not want, Japan would not get closer and closer to the US, update its defense posture. If people support, it militarization will happen.
If Ukrainians did not want, they would not elect their current leadership with such political decisions. If people want, Ukraine will win.
If majority of people want, Europe will achieve energy independence from Russia, even at the
I do not subscribe to the notion that people are stupid or do not matter. They do, and they exact change.
So, perhaps, China and Russia have failed on the peoples' level so countries around them distancing themselves by bandwagoning, hedging or balancing.