Title: Turbulent South China Sea, Changing Scenery in the Taiwan Strait: A Chess Game of China-Philippines Confrontation and the United States
Hey friends, today we're going to talk about that hot spot in the western Pacific – the South China Sea. Have you heard? Recently, tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated over there. Just a few days ago, Philippine ships were driven away by water cannons by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. For the next two days, Philippine coast guard ships and Chinese coast guard ships were at a standoff there, turning the situation in the entire western Pacific like a powder keg.
Then, in response to this situation, the Chinese People's Liberation Army is not vegetarian, they sent the Shandong aircraft carrier formation to the south. It happened so quickly that it took less than a day to get it done. Looking at this posture, do you feel that China is as resolute as iron on the issue of sovereignty at its own doorstep?
After talking about the South China Sea, let's talk about the Taiwan issue. Recently, the journal Foreign Affairs has published articles by several American scholars who have a variety of perspectives on the subject. For example, some people feel that the United States can take advantage of this opportunity to create a "new relationship" between the people on both sides of the strait that seems to be fairly balanced, as if it can still make some benefit from it. There are also voices that support the policy stance of "no reunification, no independence, and no military force."
If you want me to say, these scholars in the United States have a little bit of their own interests in their analysis. They probably believe that the United States can better achieve its own strategic goals by not arming Taiwan. But at the same time, they are also worried that if they really fight or if the strategy fails, the entire Asia-Pacific strategy may collapse.
Let's take a look at what advice American scholars have given to their own government. One of them is to "freeze" the Taiwan independence party platform -- that is, not to let the Taiwan issue continue to heat up. But I wondered in my heart, "freezing" and "abolishing" don't mean the same thing! Is this just to leave a way out for myself?
Having said that, there are some misunderstandings between China and the United States. For example, what exactly does the "one-China" principle stand behind it? Americans may not fully understand it. Where can there be a "new balance" in cross-strait relations? The Chinese side has never stopped promoting cross-strait integration.
Finally, I have to tell you clearly: The reunification of the two sides of the strait cannot be expected to be realized by the United States. The Chinese side has already made it clear in the Anti-Secession Law that any separatist act will be met with PLA artillery response.
To sum up: The situation in the South China Sea is very tense at present, and the United States also has its own complex and changeable attitude and plan on the Taiwan issue. But one thing is certain – China has never wavered in upholding its sovereignty and upholding the "one-China" principle.
The next time we meet, we will continue to pay attention to the complex and changeable stories between the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, which involve the direction of the global pattern!