1993: Russian constitutional crisis occurs, Yeltsin flees Moscow and rises an army of Loyalists who are defeated. China sees the opportunity to reclaim “Outer Manchuria” and invades Russia annexing Primorsky Krai, Sakhalin Island, Southern Khabarovsk Krai, Amur Oblast, and the Autonomous Jewish Oblast. After seeing this event the West breaks off relations with China.
1994: After seeing China instead of Russia as the major threat to America, the US authorizes a “second Marshal Plan” to former soviet block states, with the main focus being on technological upgrades and automation to Eastern Industry and support for a service sector for laid off workers.
1995: China after seeing the US aid Russia starts taking over assets owned by western Companies in China and hands them over to Chinese businessmen, significantly reducing trade between China and the West. A Nuclear arms race between China and the West starts.
1999: Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus join NATO. US Tanks are being placed on the Russo-Chinease boarder.
2001: 9/11 occurs, the White House is destroyed. US president George Bush is killed. Richard Cheney becomes president. In addition to the attacks IOTL Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin are all attacked and destroyed. Afghanistan is invaded and a new government is put in charge. NATO blames China for the attacks. China denies the allegations but the Chinese Foreign Minister said “you imperialists had it coming.” NATO declares war on China. American and Russian Tanks pour into China virtually unopposed and reach the Yellow Sea, dividing Manchuria into two sides. Then Chinese Infantry surround and encircle the tanks. However, the Chinese are unable to close the pocket. So they decide to use a tactical nuke against the NATO armored divisions. The US then starts a large scale nuclear bombing of Chinese cities in retaliation. Russia, France, and the UK quickly follow suit. China then begins nuking American, Russian, and European cities. The result in the China endures a nuclear holocaust with a surviving population of one hundred million with no functional government. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Paris, London, DC, LA, and New York are all glassed, however a functional state still exists in the NATO countries but their economy collapsed from the war.