There's China on one side. And the entire world on another

China, through its actions, has sequestered itself. It is on one side, and the entire world is on another.

So much so that after 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in a clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condoled the death of the soldiers.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the people of India for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation with China. We will remember the soldiers’ families, loved ones, and communities as they grieve,” Pompeo tweeted.

This was the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between India and China.

The most telling statemement, however, came from US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell.

"There's an assessment in Beijing that the world is distracted and is focussed entirely on recovering from the coronavirus pandemic -- which then possibly is seen as an opportunity to take advantage of the situation," he said.

"The actions that we've seen out of China of late have not really been constructive as we look at India, the South China Sea and Hong Kong issues."

China did not stop at India. It charged two detained Canadians for suspected espionage, indictments that could result in life imprisonment.

The indictments were of particularly serious circumstances which violated Article 111 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, which pertains to espionage and state secrets.

Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018 on state security charges. While China maintains the detentions are not linked to Meng, former diplomats and experts have said they are being used to pressure Canada.

Canada has called the arrests "arbitrary".

Moreover, Australia views China as the chief suspect in a spate of cyber-attacks of increasing frequency in recent months.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had earlier said a "sophisticated state-based actor" had spent months trying to hack all levels of the government, political bodies, essential service providers and operators of critical infrastructure. Following this, sources briefed on the matter said the actor was supposed to be China.

It's quite clear from these examples. 

China's power-grab knows no limits. Its surveillance knows no boundaries. It is fighting every country that it can. And it wants to expand every way it can.

It is China versus the entire world.