There is only one border left out, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or North Korea. What this suggests is that China has now abandoned the foreign policy stance adopted after its close alliance with the Soviet Union came to an end in July 1960. That stance was isolationist and defensive. For the last four decades China cultivated good relations with most of its neighbors but did not get involved with them except on practical matters like trade. Its relations with America grew more and more intricate but, especially after the bombing of its Belgrade embassy in May 1999, Beijing again nudged the Americans back.
Isolationism comes easy to China.
Chinese often speak of themselves as fengbi, meaning shut off from the world. Though China's relations with other countries improved during the 1990's there was no new opening up until now. The Chinese leadership changed its stance in their annual meeting last August in the resort town of Beidaihe. Every annual Beidaihe meeting gives rise to big decisions. This one may turn out to be the most important since 1984.