I'm hoping to elicit this forum's help in understanding the logic/rationale behind the significant increase in China's very public use of coercive tactics/sharp power in the last 2-3 years. Certainly the regime does not believe that there will be no pushback. Arguably it's this very public nature of sparring (along with Covid-19) that has resulted in increased hostility toward China. While I understand issues surrounding XJ and Taiwan having this sort of response (though very undiplomatic), what explains Chinese actions over other matters?

Among the explanations I have heard are rising nationalism (i.e., rising nationalism requires CCP to act in this manner to appease domestic audiences), the West as a punching bag/pressure release valve (given flailing economy, increased internal repression, source of legitimacy) and elite politics (Xi consolidating power using these tactics).

I was under the impression that nationalism is the consequence of CCP actions, not the cause. The CCP exercises a formidable control over political discourse in the country and they can turn the nationalism tap on/off, so to speak, as they desire.

The West as a punching bag makes sense to a certain extent, but this could be certainly be a lot more calibrated. Why go after academics and other elements of the civil society? Also, why meddle in European affairs (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, France, Greece, Germany, etc.) when rallying the population against US and UK would suffice?

Re: elite politics, wouldn't worsening relations with the West provide an opportunity for the other factions to wrestle power from XJP? It seems XJP is hellbent on fighting every battle everywhere.