Increasingly Chinese people are displaying a sense of arrogance as their country becomes financially more powerful. Even in the past five years, as I experience life on the street, this arrogance becomes palpable. The country calls itself communist but I don't know one communist who is prepared to share his or her wealth.
The Rio Tinto event shows us that the Chinese no longer seek hand-holders as they move into the capitalist world; they have shrugged off any need to encourage friendship or partnership with outsiders [or foreigners as they so balefully describe us].
And this has happened during the past five years or so.
I dread the coming years.

The Australian 10/7/09