It's just modus operandi for most elected national leaders.
Step 1: Shout "Death to China!" during election campaigning. Accuse incumbent of betraying the country and selling out to China.
Step 2: If fail to get elected, end of story. If elected, start with a few bombastic rhetoric and symbolic anti-China policies.
Step 3: Country / government gets stuck and economy, employment, inflation etc. takes a hit resulting in rapid decline of approval rating. Get whacked by opposition and corporations for national mismanagement.
Step 4: U-turn back to cooperate with China and eat humble pie. Former politicians who used to work with China while in government now become opposition and accuse current government for such shameful betrayal of "the people".
Step 5: Repeat Step 1.
Only exception is South Korean president Yoon Sook Yol. Bugger performed Step 1 more vigorously then anyone else and then simply skipped Steps 2 - 3 and directly move to Step 4.