As Communist China Grows Weaker, It Puts On a Bigger Show of Force

In the past two years, as the Chinese communist regime buckles down on its official positions, it has adopted an increasingly belligerent attitude that reflects its deep inner weakness.

Chinese People's Liberation Army cadets train in Beijing on July 22. The Chinese military is setting new standards for studying Communist doctrine, at the expense of training. Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images

The only time I saw a wild beast was in the primeval forests of Tibet in the 1980s. A leopard was prowling up a hill about 70 or 80 meters from our camp. It was at sunset. As the leopard moved, it frequently stopped and turned to look at our camp. We watched it nervously. Even after it went far, we still used a spyglass to track it. Its intimidating yet carefree strength left a deep impression on me.

As a Tibetan proverb put it, the creatures that appear the most ferocious are actually the least of one’s fears. This is gleaned from age-old hunting wisdom. The more alert and aggressive an animal shows, the less attacking power it has, since these animals are usually at the lower end of the food chain.