The cracks in the armour are widening. This is despite the impressive show of force the administration of President Jiang Zemin has staged both at home and abroad.
Domestically, Mr Jiang has unleashed a Maoist mass movement against the Falun Gong cult. Steps have been taken to teach Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui a lesson via at least quasi-military means.
With the United States, Beijing is pursuing a policy of economic co-operation in tandem with a Cold War-vintage 'struggle against neo-imperialism'. The test-firing of a 8,000km missile on Monday was meant as a warning for the US as much as for Taiwan.
The thunder and lightning, however, cannot mask the fact that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership is facing its toughest test since the Cultural Revolution.
While it has governed the world's most populous country for 50 years, the Leninist outfit is ill-prepared to handle multiple crises which include the Nato bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Mr Lee's 'two states theory' and the mushrooming of cults and assorted underground organisations.
The party's inadequacy - perhaps even impending irrelevance - can be seen when we examine two critical issues: the lack of unity at the top; and the dicey future of reform.
