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The problem I see is the period of unrest. Russia would look askance at any PRC meddling and this could stir up the underlining tension over the silent invasion of Siberia.
Longterm, China's best in might be Afghanistan post NATO. It would create a large secure land bridge to Pakistan, end a persistent security problem for its ally, cause problems for India, and put China in a posistion to leverage pressur eon not only Kazhakistan but Uzbekistan and provide a direct route for Iranian oil and gas. Unlike the USSR or NATO China has the infantry assets to sit on the Afghans like a fat aunt sitting on the family cat when she visits for the holiday's.
Afghan jihadees also give China a much more plausable excuse to intervene. In any of the former Soviet stans Russia would be the one to send troops to secure its sphere of influence. Who is to prove one way or another if PRC assets start getting hit by jihadees. Blow a hole in a road under some old army trucks placewhite sheet sover some manicans, and kill a couple of horses and you have instant cassus belli with international support.
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