While the Chinese get blamed for having an adventurous foreign policy, they are actually quite prudent. The Chinese often turn down opportunities to get their weapons, or troops (as trainers, advisors, or whatever) into distant lands.
A recent example of this occurred when leftist Evo Morales, the newly elected president of Bolivia, visited China. He made a big pitch for significant aid, apparently invoking revolutionary rhetoric about " fighting the Imperialists."
The Chinese made polite noises, promised some aid, and did not commit themselves. This seems to be in keeping with recent Chinese policy, to be publicly somewhat distant from the US, but to support its actions – or at least not oppose them – when it comes to real issues. |