[glorgau]

Ditto, they played this card in a rather low importance scenario. The Chinese must not play poker.

[lack-of-trust]

I think they wanted the world to see they had the card...

Like the old west gunfighter who carries the nickle plated six shooter with pearl grips. Those embelishments don’t make the gun draw faster or shoot straighter... they just say “See My Gun”

[DeaconBenjamin]

Perhaps the Chinese found the criteria they were waiting for had been met, and this incident provided the excuse they were looking for.

Another possibility: the Chinese public is really, really ticked off over this issue, and the powers that be decided they could not afford to underplay the conflict.