Sabre rattling to distract from domestic problems?
Sure, I know there has been an increasing escalation there. But there's a general slowdown in the Chinese economy soon to be worsened by the ongoing Evergrande collapse, whole cities built but uninhabited, energy restrictions affecting not only residents but industry, and food stockpiling in some areas.
After Indian soldiers kicked Chinese troops' ass in fistfights in the disputed territories, there's been a domestic crackdown to make Chinese men pretend to be more masculine. Whole industries, like private tutoring companies, are shut down on a whim. Businesses in film, travel, education, real estate, banking, and e-commerce get up each day not knowing if Xi is going to change their business model for some ideological reason.
Wolf warrior diplomacy means less friends and cooperation. The consequences of blacklisting China's cheapest and most reliable supplier of raw materials, Australia, has raised prices and hindered economic growth.
The list goes on. Xi has created as many domestic problems as has occurred naturally. Could be time to distract people at home from the mess he has got them into. Taiwan always does that.
