In 2026, Deng Xiaoping’s advice to lie low is making a temporary, tactical return: Comment

BEIJING: As war raged in the Middle East and Washington moved to curb China’s influence in Latin America, observers were watching for clues on how Beijing intends to protect its interests abroad – and manage its most consequential external relationship, that with the United States. It was against this backdrop that China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi took the stage on March 8 for his press conference on the sidelines of the Two Sessions, the country’s annual meetings of lawmakers and political advisers. The silver-haired 72-year-old, presiding over the annual ritual for the 12th time, has long been the public voice…