Western analysts were left to wonder what was driving Beijing’s escalation. Was the Chinese leadership reckless and naive, or was it trapped in a nationalist propaganda narrative of its own making? Or was Beijing’s reaction indicative of something more sinister? Was Beijing convinced that America and Europe’s decline was entering a terminal stage? Following the fiasco of the Western response to Covid, was now the moment for Beijing to press home its advantage and demand acceptance and respect for its ruthlessly effective regime?
