‘Taiwan is not Ukraine’ – but Beijing’s attempt to explain the difference ignores key questions

On the face of it, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have a lot in common. Both are ageing all-powerful national leaders, both are survivors of the 20th century’s communist-led revolutions, and both are looking to create legacy projects worthy of their grand ambitions.  That means righting wrongs imposed by the past victories of Western intruders and restoring what was lost to the