The calendar is the problem with Rutte's scenario, not the scenario itself. He's been selling the same scene for a year: China moves on Taiwan, Xi rings Putin first and tells him to pin NATO down in Europe. But Russia is already pinning Europe down. Ukraine isn't a side quest waiting on a Chinese green light, and what's already on the board is drones, sabotage and the rest of the hybrid menu. Xi wouldn't need to assign homework Moscow is already doing. Writer: Lucas