Let's acknowledge what's obvious: The way Malaysia has handled the loss of Flight 370 has been pathetic. What's less obvious is China's role in this sorry spectacle.

The biggest aviation mystery since Amelia Earhart disappeared isn't over for Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, and it may never be. Not with the families of the 154 Chinese passengers (out of 239 people) on board the missing Malaysian Air jet accusing his government of a coverup. Not with puzzled observers around the world wondering how a government of a reasonably developed nation could be so inept. And not with Malaysians looking at a ruling elite that's turned crisis management into a management crisis.

The biggest reason the fallout from Flight 370 may not be over for a long time might be because of China. Maybe the government of Asia's most important economy really is livid at Malaysia's handling of this tragedy. It's hard not to think there also are ulterior motives at work.