[Goose]

Yeah, the nuclear weapons are a bit of a deterrent, aren't they.  Like, China could attack, and could probably occupy the territory,

Depends on what you mean by "occupy". There is a whole lot of land with almost no population, no roads, and lots of natural obstacles. In large measure, Russia doesn't presently "occupy" much of that territory either. Russia and China can fight in that area, but neither side has the logistics to support large armies there for any length of time. China would "win", but then what? Exploiting the resources of the area in question requires massive amounts of money for infrastructure and the relocation of lots of people to that area. It will also take time, lots of it. China has better opportunities  with quicker rewards in the China Sea area enclosed by their "9 dash line". 

but from their perspective, is it worth the risk of triggering a nuclear response?  Russia fired a nuclear capable hypersonic missile at Ukraine; it could do that to a China at the onset of an attack as an unspoken warning... the next one could be nuclear armed (of course, would China, not knowing if the hypersonic missile headed in their direction has a nuclear payload wait for it to hit to find out?)

I doubt they would wait. This is the European scenario that both NATO and Russia feared. Somebody launches a missile that is nuclear capable. Does it contain a nuclear warhead? Eventually, the side that is losing the war will use one. Perhaps it is only intended as a "message", but is anyone willing to wait and see? Nuclear war by accident.

Bottom line, it's unlikely that the Chinese would attack Russia.

BC

Agree. It is much safer (as well as potentially much more financially and politically rewarding) to blockade Taiwan. Taiwan doesn't have nuclear weapons, and China can be virtually certain the US would not use one in Taiwan's defense unless China first used one. Victory in Taiwan without a destructive war is orders of magnitude better for China than lots of Russian wilderness (no matter what its "potential" may be).

[Goose]

Yeah, the nuclear weapons are a bit of a deterrent, aren't they.  Like, China could attack, and could probably occupy the territory,

Depends on what you mean by "occupy". There is a whole lot of land with almost no population, no roads, and lots of natural obstacles. In large measure, Russia doesn't presently "occupy" much of that territory either. Russia and China can fight in that area, but neither side has the logistics to support large armies there for any length of time. China would "win", but then what? Exploiting the resources of the area in question requires massive amounts of money for infrastructure and the relocation of lots of people to that area. It will also take time, lots of it. China has better opportunities  with quicker rewards in the China Sea area enclosed by their "9 dash line". 

but from their perspective, is it worth the risk of triggering a nuclear response?  Russia fired a nuclear capable hypersonic missile at Ukraine; it could do that to a China at the onset of an attack as an unspoken warning... the next one could be nuclear armed (of course, would China, not knowing if the hypersonic missile headed in their direction has a nuclear payload wait for it to hit to find out?)

I doubt they would wait. This is the European scenario that both NATO and Russia feared. Somebody launches a missile that is nuclear capable. Does it contain a nuclear warhead? Eventually, the side that is losing the war will use one. Perhaps it is only intended as a "message", but is anyone willing to wait and see? Nuclear war by accident.

Bottom line, it's unlikely that the Chinese would attack Russia.

BC

Agree. It is much safer (as well as potentially much more financially and politically rewarding) to blockade Taiwan. Taiwan doesn't have nuclear weapons, and China can be virtually certain the US would not use one in Taiwan's defense unless China first used one. Victory in Taiwan without a destructive war is orders of magnitude better for China than lots of Russian wilderness (no matter what its "potential" may be).