By Matt Underwood China says Japan sent ‘shocking’ wrong signal on Taiwan. Well, that’s quite the statement, isn’t it? It seems China is genuinely taken aback, or at least pretending to be, by Japan’s stance on Taiwan. The core of the issue boils down to Japan signaling its willingness to potentially intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan. And, according to Beijing, that’s not the “right” signal to be sending.
The obvious question pops to mind: what *would* the “right” signal have been? It appears that China’s discomfort stems from the idea that someone is suggesting it’s wrong to invade a democratic nation. Some might even see this as China playing the victim, which is an interesting tactic, considering their own actions in places like Hong Kong. It’s tough to ignore the way China tightened its grip on Hong Kong, even after promising a degree of autonomy. This is definitely a self-inflicted wound, in my book.
If China had handled Hong Kong with more respect, if they’d kept their promises, perhaps the people of Taiwan wouldn’t feel so strongly about wanting to stay separate. There’s a fundamental principle here: building friendships and trade is better than trying to take land by force. Our modern world is built on that idea. It’s why appeasing aggressive nations is so dangerous. China is watching. If we let the rules slide, we invite more conflict.
China seems to be genuinely shocked that Japan would express a commitment to defend Taiwan from foreign invasion, something Japan has publicly stated for years. It’s hard to be shocked by something that’s been openly stated. This entire situation feels like another example of the CCP’s reaction to the world. It’s hard to ignore that some of China’s actions are simply, well, heinous.
From an outside perspective, it is difficult to see what China is shocked about. If Beijing is complaining, maybe Japan is doing something right. Japan and the U.S. have a long history of cooperation, especially when it comes to military matters. It’s hard to imagine China not expecting this kind of response. The CCP was probably hoping Japan would stay out of the conflict, as their participation only complicates matters and increases the likelihood of the U.S., the Philippines, and Australia getting involved.
It’s all part of the authoritarian playbook: when someone calls you out on your actions, play the victim. Many see the situation with Taiwan as distinct and separate from China’s actions. The Taiwanese themselves, for a long time, have voiced their opposition to China’s rule, even before China’s handling of Hong Kong. Many believe that Taiwan would suffer under China’s rule.
There’s a lot of truth in the idea that countries should focus on forging friendships and trade instead of military actions. The situation with Hong Kong is a perfect example of this. Despite China’s breaches of the agreements regarding Hong Kong, the UK hasn’t intervened militarily, likely to avoid escalating tensions.
Some argue that Russia’s losses in Ukraine, and all of the consequences Russia is facing, show that annexing land by force is not the open season that some may claim. While Russia has occupied some Ukrainian territory, the cost has been enormous, and hardly seen as an invitation by China.
When China expresses shock, it often feels like a manufactured outrage, perhaps a way to distract from domestic issues. Perhaps China could just let go of old rivalries. It really does seem that China wants to take Taiwan by force, which is heinous.