> This is why China believes that the surest path to international power is not through a direct confrontation but through patience. They've had plenty of time

> This is why China believes that the surest path to international power is not through a direct confrontation but through patience. They've had plenty of time to demonstrate the "patience" approach. Instead of that, they're certainly playing the direct confrontation card in the "South China" sea. ie everyone else's territory that happens to be wet in the rough direction of China That's not a "patience" approach.