It’s hard to articulate, but it’s that classing of a worthy foe or something. Like people say “say what you will about x but he does y good” (something said by someone about Rommel by Patton (at least in his movie))in a way that’s meant to sound begrudging but just makes them sound like they want to be them if you get me
Witness it once in a blue moon
Respecting your opponent is easy when both parties share the same ultimate goals and really only differ on what methods think are best. It would be like us when comparing the DPRK’s more stalwart approach towards adhering to socialism vs China’s more pragmatic approach to existing in a Western dominated world.