China’s Strident Tone Raises Concerns Among Western Governments, Analysts

China’s response to Washington’s plans to sell weapons to Taiwan is part of the recent change in tone in China’s relations not only with the US, but also the world. That change likely stems from China’s ever increasing importance on the world stage as well as new confidence generated by its survival of the financial crisis relatively unscathed. But domestic insecurity over unrest in its western regions may also have an influence. China’s determined stance against European states interacting with the Dalai Lama resulted in canceled summits, suspensions of diplomatic ties, and public denunciations against heads of state and governments. Similarly, China asserted its territorial sovereignty with respect to borders it shares with India and its regional power and influence when it convinced the Cambodian government to return a group of Uighurs seeking asylum. The reality is that China is using its economic heft to exert influence across the globe. So far the response has been to accommodate China. Will the West start pushing back? – YaleGlobal