China's Charm Offensive and BRICS Summit

Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — the so-called BRICS — met in China on April 14 to promote cooperation and to criticize what they see as a Western-dominated global order. As host, China is using the summit to reverse its aggressive image from 2010, as it is doing elsewhere. Beijing has not abandoned assertive tactics, however, though it may seek to minimize international conflicts while it struggles with economic and political difficulties at home.