I believe the show by the mainland Chinese leadership is for the benefit of (1) mainland Chinese, (2) Taiwan, (3) SE Asians, and (4) W, in that priority order.
W, having made his foreign policy intentions known during the election campaign, has no particular leverage on China;
WTO is now of low priority with the PRC leadership, because while the economic and social reforms necessary to join WTO is picking up pace on the mainland, the urgency to join has disappeared as the global economy is tanking, protectionism on the rise, currencies being competitively depreciated.
I spend a major portion of my time doing and undoing deals on the mainland and the changes has been mind bogglingly drastic, fast paced, and generally well directed, supported by the broad population. Political reform experimentation has also started. Making China out to be an enemy and Japan out to be a friend is laughable, a mistake, and has no future upside, and does little for peace and prosperity around the Pacific. Japan+ASEAN < EU+NATO; and China not = USSR.
Chugs, Jay |
