The Limits of China’s Charm Offensive
Following a series of international spats, China has stepped up its efforts to mend fences and promote a more appealing image of the country. But it is unlikely that such efforts aimed at Western elites will mitigate the deep-seated uncertainty in the US and Europe about China’s rise.
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BRUSSELS – To many people in the West, China seems to have gone from a country that “keeps a cool head and maintains a low profile,” in Deng Xiaoping’s formulation, to one that loves a good international bust-up. Putting an Australian mining executive behind bars for ten years, squeezing out Google, keeping the European Union at bay for an important dialogue, and letting a mid-level official wag his finger at US President Barack Obama at the Copenhagen Climate summit is not, after all, the best way to convince partners of your constructive intentions.