The US is still able to exert control and influence in the West, which maintains a delicate balance of power with Russia, keeping the latter under pressure, particularly in the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
This equilibrium allows China to capitalize on the situation, striking a balance with the US and avoiding exerting undue pressure on it. However, if the US were to be defeated, a potentially formidable alliance could emerge between Russia and the West, leveraging Russia's energy resources and the West's industrialized bases, posing a significant threat to China's interests.