“China has succumbed to hubris”
Hat tip to Richard for pointing the way. We’re on a bit of a theme here at the moment, and this article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard at the Telegraph is well worth inclusion for asking the question: is China spoiling for a fight? A taste:
China has succumbed to hubris. It has mistaken the soft diplomacy of Barack Obama for weakness, mistaken the US credit crisis for decline, and mistaken its own mercantilist bubble for ascendancy. There are echoes of Anglo-German spats before the First World War, when Wilhelmine Berlin so badly misjudged the strategic balance of power and over-played its hand.
And in case anyone thought Wen Jiabo wasn’t reading this blog, the article quotes the Chinese premier’s response:
“Some say China has got more arrogant and tough. Some put forward the theory of China’s so-called ‘triumphalism’. My conscience is untainted despite slanders from outside,” he said.
Slander? That’s very arrogant of you, uncle Wen old sport. Evans-Pritchard then takes the Politburo to task for some delusional rhetoric:
Days earlier the State Council accused America of serial villainy. “In the US, civil and political rights of citizens are severely restricted and violated by the government. Workers’ rights are seriously violated,” it said.
“The US, with its strong military power, has pursued hegemony in the world, trampling upon the sovereignty of other countries and trespassing their human rights,” it said.
“At a time when the world is suffering a serious human rights disaster caused by the US subprime crisis-induced global financial crisis, the US government revels in accusing other countries.” And so forth.
Is the Politiburo smoking weed?
A special blend of hubris kush, one suspects.