CHINA AND THE GULF CRISIS - ESCAPE FROM PREDICAMENTS

During the Gulf war, China's old-guard leadership managed to exploit international instability to promote China's own interests-but not in fundamental way. By adhering to a cautious, almost traditional policy. China did escape from a number of predicaments in its foreign policy, but it lost its opportunity to play more than a marginal role in world affairs in the process. The Chinese chose to go half the way, and they achieved half the results. A more central role in world affairs probably will only become possible for China when its current aging rulers are replaced by younger leaders who are willing to do more than sit on the fence and watch the tigers fight.