THE breakdown of the China consensus seems to have several origins, one of them being the emergence of an odd coalition on the American political scene.

This has resulted in an odd coalition of gentry and students, rich estate owners, and middle-class people.

This odd coalition outweighed the solidly pro-euro sentiments of Denmark's business community.

But Israel, governed since 1984 by an odd coalition of political rivals, is divided and therefore paralyzed on the international conference idea.

Democrats, energized by an odd coalition of former committee chairmen and a cadre of furious liberals, pressed an attack on the Republican welfare plan as simply, plainly, immoral.

The anti-Maastricht forces are an odd coalition of extreme left and right - as in both France, during its referendum campaign, and in Britain.

An odd coalition of conservative Republicans and Democrats allied with consumer advocates like Ralph Nader oppose GATT.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, odd coalitions are sometimes formed in this House, and not only in this House.

An odd coalition of idealists and entrepreneurs, ranging from the novelist Toni Morrison to a powerful Westchester County developer, has a vision.

Also, with an odd coalition of Socialists and conservatives governing the country, Japan's basic political values are being questioned for the first time in four decades.