A standoff in Copenhagen; the execution of Briton Akmal Shaikh; the sentencing of dissidents Liu Xiaobo and Zhao Shiying; Google; currencies ... it seems a sudden deluge of Western complaints against China have erased all memories of President Obama's early attempts to woo Beijing.
The perception of politicians, commentators and analysts, has become increasingly negative as a consequence.
Andrew Small at the German Marshall Fund in Brussels summarises:
What has startled China’s interlocutors is the brashness with which Beijing now asserts its interests — and its willingness to prevail, even at the expense of appearing the villain.
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/5/24/2012524105149565734_16.jpg "The Brotherhood and Mubarak")
