It's that much further compared to the GC route, not the practical route over China. It's only about 100NM more than the practical route over China (I have 9664 vs 9562. GC route is 9187). China is notorious for adding extra track miles to RPT.
I'd be betting they just go via the ME. Unless there's an all out war there will be a path through.
If you want to check:
via China:
KAMPI6 RIC H530 SURVO R340 AMN A461 ZAM A583 BIGEX B330 POU W90 TEPID W22 YIN A461 BUBDA W56 DHB W520 WTM NSH V34 ZNX DNC W622 BUKPU W197 ANDIM B215 IBANO G470 AKLAS W192 FKG A368 SARIN M166 AGZ N993 ULTOP T759 LANTO L158 IRGOS T613 DOGOB M864 ELMOD L4 TOKNU T288 STAPA N869 DURTI L29 TEGLU T487 BATKU M865 TIGNU B65 LATMI LARMA DETNI ASDIN ROSOK EEL LONAM P43 LARDI N866 BUKUT P7 BARMI BARM1H
via ME:
KAMPI6 KADOM A576 PKS J141 LEC T21 PD N509 ELATI N640 KAT P570 ITURA M762 MIVEK RIDAP M557 TUMAK L602 TASMI UL602 GADSI UM860 ODALI UL852 NEGEM T746 ARGES DEGET PATAK ODNEM RAPET MASEK TIVUN BREDA ABNED L980 LOGAN LOGA2H
[MEDIA=youtube]sJPxjVASlBc[/MEDIA]
