AP Photo

To many people in the West, China seems to have gone from a country that "keeps a cool head and maintains a low profile," in Deng Xiaoping's formulation, to one that loves a good international bust-up. Putting an Australian mining executive behind bars for 10 years, squeezing out Google, keeping the European Union at bay for an important dialogue, and letting a mid-level official wag his finger at U.S. President Barack Obama at the Copenhagen Climate summit is not, after all, the best way to convince partners of your constructive intentions.