That is plausible. China last fought a war in 1979 against Vietnam and Russia has exposed its shit military that couldn't win that military parade In Kiev in a matter of weeks. However your rose colored glasses take on the prospect for American boots on the ground was absurd, as you read and apparently failed to grasp.
I can guess how Russia and China are getting a good update on our military capabilities to their dismay
While tensions and border skirmishes escalated in 1978, the full-scale conflict known as the Sino-Vietnamese War primarily took place from February 17 to March 16, 1979. China launched the invasion as a "punitive" measure against Vietnam, following Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia in late 1978, which toppled the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge regime.
Wikipedia
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Impact and Legacy
Casualties: Both sides suffered heavy losses. Western estimates suggest approximately 26,000–28,000 Chinese deaths and 30,000–35,000 Vietnamese military deaths, plus significant civilian casualties.
Military Reform: The poor performance of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) exposed deep flaws in its Maoist-era equipment and doctrine, prompting Deng Xiaoping to begin massive military modernization efforts.
Long-Term Tension: Although the major fighting ended in a month, border skirmishes and high-intensity shelling continued for over a decade, with relations not fully normalizing until 1991.
Wikipedia