I dont think it is going to backfire, I think everything is going exactly as they want it to go. Look at what is happening to the Uighurs. They are actively running concentration camps for millions of people and governments have for the most part just shrugged their shoulders. This is a massive boost to the Chinese as they now know they can get away with massive human rights violations with no consequences. Their airforce and navy is modernizing at a fantastic pace while the US has sunk a trillion into what for all purposes appears to be a dud in the JSF. They have the new silk road initiative under way, have built massive influence in Africa and are essentially claiming the entire south china sea for themselves. The Hong Kong situation is close to resolved and the only thing the world did was watch a few youtube videos or maybe wear a slogan on a tshirt. The next time there is an isolationist US president they will likely take Taiwan. They have all the time in the world.