Quote Originally Posted by Fuchs View Post
Yes, but as I remember they do rarely intentionally go into a real fight in such risky situations.
Rhetoric, burning flags, sabre-rattling, provocations, skirmishes or the occupation of some remote island where they don't expect a serious military response - that's their toolbag in such situations.
The Chinese sometimes find it expedient to fire up a foreign threat to boost nationalist sentiment and distract from domestic issues. Other nations have been known to do the same thing.