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October 1 marks the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, traditionally celebrated with fireworks and a show of military force in Beijing.

But the Middle Kingdom is hardly in a celebratory mood. The country is under siege from many sides: its biggest trading partner, the United States, has imposed massive tariffs in retaliation against China’s aggressive currency, trade, and technological misdeeds; and the country has been embarrassed for weeks as more than two million Chinese, living in Hong Kong, have taken to the streets to push back against Beijing’s attempt to abrogate the rule of law commitment made to Britain in 1997.

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China’s 70th anniversary marks the pinnacle of overreach

If anything, China’s 70th anniversary marks the pinnacle of overreach. This is hardly surprising given that its current leader, Xi Jinping, declared himself “President for life” and controls the rich and powerful country. In another version of the Biblical “pride comes before a fall,” he has rolled out aggressive strategies at home and abroad which have resulted in the country’s current embattlement.