China playing the liberal Democrats for the idiots that they are.
China are playing Western politicians for the fools they are, quite beautifully.
* Disregard all invitations to commit to any serious cuts in carbon. This drives Western politicians crazy.
* Hold back from making any premature commitment whatsoever to ascertain precisely how stupid your opponents are (and don’t interrupt them while they’re making their mistakes).
* Having established you’re dealing with jaw-dropping, planet-sized stupidity, request more cash than you could possibly imagine for ‘climate reparations’.
* Strike a serious-looking pose and state; ‘this is a serious problem created by the West’!
* Sit tight-lipped while your commercial opponents agree to hand over untold tens of $billions to pay for infrastructure you would have installed yourselves anyway.
* Nod approvingly, bow deeply and remind the West that ‘while this is a start, it cannot be the finish’ and that you’ll be back soon for some more cash to Save The Planet From The Problem Caused By The Wicked, Selfish West.
* Go home, count the money and laugh yourselves hoarse.
* Rinse, repeat.