TURN UP THE TORQUE:

China's Testy Foreign Policy Wins Few Friends, Despite Need (Mark Magnier, October 5, 2004, LA Times)

China's foreign policy as recently as last year was on a roll, earning kudos for helping to fight global terrorism and restrain North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

But a look around the neighborhood now finds Beijing's relations with Washington, Tokyo, Seoul, Pyongyang, Taipei, Singapore and Moscow taking a turn for the worse.

Although most of the frictions are manageable, they come as the Asian giant is increasingly dependent on the outside world for resources, capital and goodwill to fuel its economy and stem domestic instability. The problems raise questions about China's new leadership, analysts say.

No better time to lock Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, etc. into an anti-China Pact.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 5, 2004 8:34 AM