I use V1 timeline exclusively so in my T2K the Cold War never ends. This of course leaves a decade long gap in the timeline (from the time T2K is released till the in game story starts). Some of this is filled in as bits and pieces by different supplements and there is even some contradictory material.
That being said a lot occurs that is unsaid within the game's history. My thinking is that with a full scale war occurring Asia the US activates a wide range of pre-established war plans. And in doing so convinces several other NATO nations to do the same. We know that the US and other western allies are sending a large amount of military material to China. This has to anger the USSR. To counter this the Soviets look for ways to interdict US shipping and divert their attention. I'm betting that there are a lot of nasty incidents over the skies of Alaska, Korea, the Sea of Japan, and even northern Europe. Not to mention the secret submarine warfare that is growing ever more deadly throughout the Western Pacific and North Atlantic.
It doesn't matter much that the only two nations actually at war are the Soviet Union and China. The US must act like this is the big one or else get caught unawares when the fighting spreads. Like WWI once the ball gets rolling its almost impossible to stop.
Benjamin
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