Why China bullies
It sees a world distracted by covid-19, and too economically weak to hold it back
CHINA IS OFTEN called a country in thrall to nationalism. The reality is more complex than that, and more cynical. For proof, look at the remarkable calm (so far, at least) that has reigned since June 15th, when Chinese and Indian troops fought their deadliest border skirmish in almost half a century. On a sweltering afternoon in Beijing, nearly three days after that Himalayan clash, a couple of bored-looking police were the only sign of extra security around India’s embassy.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Why China bullies”
From the June 20th 2020 edition
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