This comes up often - these are not rational nation states with collective incentives, strong institutions and a predictable set of rules. These are cruel gangster kings consumed by older notions, like legacy and glory for The Leader. Russia and China are not like other nation states that play by predictable rules and will restrain themselves for diplomatic reasons. They do what they can get away with, because that is the nature of power and pain. Those are what matters in their world - diplomacy is a trick of the weak to keep down the strong.

Xi and Putin are two of the wealthiest people on the planet. Why? Because that's the point of power in their realms. And they had to lie, backstab, kill and steal to get there. They're very good at it.

More than "good"....its strategically vital. The main risk for the entire northern chinese plain including the region around Beijing is a shortage of fresh water. Letting the morons in Russia destroy themselves with a failing war of Cold War revenge wil give China effective control of every resource they need for the next century. At rates that Russia will be unable to refuse because of their idiotic war making them beholden to China for economic survival.