Why China Is Alienating the World

Summary:

Xi has concentrated power, creates atmosphere of fear and distrust among diplomats who must do "self-criticism" sessions. Diplomatic channels have become unusable. Chinese diplomats can't meet foreigners alone. They repeat talking points, and don't even try to think by themselves or create openings by themselves. All thinking is up to Xi. He is aware of the problem but don't know to deal with it like Deng Xiaoping did. Xi is the one who pushed for this new approach.

Chinese demand apologies to any concession and the US sees diplomatic opportunity get everyone else to come together against China.

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ps. Deng Xiaoping was the only Chinese communist leader who was educated in the West. He studied and worked in in France from age 16, then Soviet Union. He returned to China at age 22. Spending his formative years in a foreign countries gave him the perspective to deal with the outside world.

Paywalled, looks interesting. I hope it explores the "to what goal or endpoints" form of "why". Chinese strategic planners cannot be unaware of the effect this alienation has, so there must be a rationale which justifies it internally. A story (if you like) which makes the cost acceptable for the benefit.

China is apparently unloading coal in previously blackballed Australian shipments. That's a stellar climb down in the trade dispute, a minnow (economically) has won a point over the giant.

> Xi himself has at least tacitly acknowledged the problem, warning in a Politburo study session in June that China needed to present a “lovable” image to the world.

And yet he turns his back on Pooh, the most lovable bear in the world.

Xi Jinping is making pragmatic moves. He's zigging and zagging like a Muhammed Ali or Barack Obama or Nelson Mandela. He's fired more people from the Communist Party than Donald Trump did on his popular TV reality show. The world admires Xi Jinping's priority given to balanced ecogreen economic development for moderated prosperity and phasing in nuclear to replace coal. He played his goboard pieces well to win back the feminist Huawei executive who is a mother with children.