The end is usually sudden for a mafia boss.

After World War II the US embarked on a Cold War with the Soviet Union. It was unnecessary because "post-war Soviet Union was in no position to embark on aggressive expansionism", wrote VA Nageswaran. "Its economy was in tatters and Stalin had conceded America's dominant position in the world as the chief victor of of World War II. But, China seems to be under the impression that America, if not the entire West, is now history; if debt did not flatten the US, coronavirus would." "Influential Chinese insider-turned-dissident Cai Xia, who in an audio recording leaked in June called China's President Xi Jinping a 'mafia boss', was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party early this week," wrote The Indian Express. "A retired professor of the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, Cai taught democratic principles to officials who were meant to rise in the country's power structure." "Speaking to CNN, Cai said Xi's 'reign of terror' did not come from a position of strength -- instead it exposed his deep sense of insecurity." "Cai also called for sanctions on top Chinese officials and appealed to the international community to join hands in stopping the Communist Party from 'infiltrating' global institutions and spreading Xi's 'totalitarian' ideals." "According to a report written by Anthony Klan, Wuhan scientists are believed to have been conducting research into deadly pathogens in Pakistan since 2015, after revelations surfaced last month that China and Pakistan have entered into a secret three-year agreement to expand potential bio-warfare capabilities." They have published papers of five studies on "West Nile Virus, MERS-Coronavirus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, the Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and the Chikungunya Virus", all of whom have no treatment at present. The Communist Party (CCP) has infiltrated "business groups, professional associations, or cultural and community organizations", wrote Sandipan Deb. "Many leading Western business figures now serve as amplifiers for Beijing's message to their governments and the wider public, not least in warning of 'damaging the relationship' and the risks of retaliation when statements are made that may upset Beijing." So, is China assured of victory? "Chinese buyers have not only stopped snapping up iconic overseas assets, the coronavirus pandemic is ravaging the targets of deals that defined a headier era." Either going bankrupt or making heavy losses. "China is enduring a barrage of complaints from Europe's political and business leaders," wrote Duncan Bartlett, especially after the new security law on Hong Kong. The European Union's (EU) High Representative for foreign and security policy Josep Borrell wrote in a recent blog that China is becoming more aggressive and that democratic countries should develop a coordinated policy against China, wrote Indrani Bagchi. In recent months, Chinese officials and economists have been "discussing worst-case scenarios under which China is blocked from dollar settlements, or Washington freezes or confiscates a portion of China's huge US debt holdings". China may think it is winning but the world is refusing to play by its rules. Xi Jinping may want to be mafia boss forever but will likely lose his head. Can't come soon enough.