For the first three decades of economic reform and growth, China followed Deng Xiaoping’s advice to “hide brilliance, cherish obscurity” in global affairs, keeping a low profile as it expanded to become the world’s second-biggest economy. The current leadership under Xi Jinping does not hold with such self-abnegation. That much is clear, both from its campaign to assert itself in the South China Sea and its islands dispute with Japan.

Yet Beijing still fails to play a political role commensurate with its economic clout. Hobbled by domestic concerns, resource dependency and a reluctance to get involved in the quarrels of others, it has little to say about significant international issues and has been reticent about advancing proposals to reform global political and economic structures.

Since November 2012, when he took the top job as general secretary of the Communist party, Mr Xi has emerged as the strongest Chinese leader since Deng. In addition to his party role Mr Xi is state president, head of the Central Military Commission and chairs three new bodies. One of them, the National Security Commission, is charged with ensuring domestic stability. China spends more on internal security than on its armed forces.