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In September 2024, a 28,000-ton supply ship insisted on navigating these sensitive waters despite China's warnings, which on the surface appeared to be an ordinary "freedom of navigation" operation, but behind it was a complex international game.
The German warship was undoubtedly testing China's bottom line, and they carefully chose this moment to determine that China would not easily react violently, although China expressed strong dissatisfaction with this and did not take substantive action to stop it, a scene that is like a carefully choreographed chess game where every move hides a mystery.
The matter did not end there, when the German warship did not stop there after passing through the Taiwan Strait, but sped south, its next destination was the Philippines, a move that immediately revealed its true intentions.
Germany's move was a well-planned trip to Asia, from the Atlantic Ocean to joint exercises with Japan and other countries in the Sea of Japan, then through the Taiwan Strait and finally to the Philippines.
Germany As a key member of NATO, Germany move is clearly a move to demonstrate its presence and cooperate with United States and its allies to challenge China's interests in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea.
This kind of international game is not new, as the two superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union often staged similar dramas on a global scale during the Cold War, and now with the rise of China, this game is being repeated in the Asia-Pacific region, but the protagonists are China and the West.
On the surface, Germany's action is under the banner of "safeguarding the international maritime order", but in fact it is in line with the United States-led China strategy, exerting pressure through military presence, and attempting to influence China's position on core interests such as the Taiwan issue, the East China Sea dispute, and sovereignty in the South China Sea, which is reminiscent of the interference of major powers in China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the face of such provocations, China has shown great restraint and strategic determination, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy in Germany have expressed strong dissatisfaction and have not taken drastic actions.
China's response is reminiscent of the old saying "Mount Tai does not move like a mountain", and in the face of the provocation of Germany warships, China has chosen to respond to all changes with the same strategy, which shows both China's mind as a great power and its far-sighted diplomatic wisdom.
Germany this action is not an isolated incident, in recent years, Western countries have frequently carried out so-called "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and other waters around China, these actions are ostensibly under the banner of maintaining the international maritime order, but in fact they are a challenge to China's sovereignty.
Sun Tzu said in the Art of War: "A soldier who surrenders without a fight is also a good man." In today's complex international situation, China's rash move will only fall into the trap of the other side, and it will not be conducive to safeguarding its own interests.
Germany as a European economic power, its military position is not prominent, and this time sending warships through the Taiwan Strait is not so much Germany its own will, but rather to cooperate with the strategic layout Germany of United States and NATO.
Historically, Germany has played an important role in the international arena many times, from the rise of Prussia to the two world wars to the division and unification during the Cold War, Germany's fate has always been closely related to the world pattern, as the leader of the European Union, Germany seems to want to take a share of the pie in the Asia-Pacific region, the problem is that the situation in the Asia-Pacific region is far more complicated than Europe.
Germany the warship operation seems to be a big deal Taiwan, but in fact it is a bit of a fuss, although the strait is sensitive and not a forbidden area, international law gives ships of all countries the right of innocent passage in the waters, and the main reason why China opposes it is because Germany move has obvious political provocations.
This is very similar to the story of the fox and the grapes in the ancient Greece fable, and the German warship is like the fox that cannot reach the grapes, knowing that it cannot really influence China's decision-making, but to make a high profile, which will not help solve the problem, but may damage Germany's long-term interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
China's restraint in response to Germany's provocations is not weakness, but a clever diplomatic strategy, as the saying goes, "if you can't bear it, you will make a big plan." In the current complex international situation, China needs to focus on more important challenges, rather than being distracted by such small actions.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Wei Jiang, the doctor of the Jin State, sent an envoy to the Chu State, and the King of Chu deliberately placed the spoils seized from the Jin State in front of the palace in order to show off his national strength. This remark not only defuses the embarrassment but also highlights the great power demeanor of the Jin State, and China's approach to Germany warships is a modern interpretation of this wisdom.
The real purpose of the German warship going south, it went to the Philippines obviously to intervene in the South China Sea issue, in recent years, the Philippines with the support of United States has been constantly challenging China in the South China Sea issue, Germany's move is undoubtedly to support the Philippines, but how much does Germany know about the South China Sea, and what qualifications does it have to point fingers on this issue?
As a European country, Germany may not have a comprehensive understanding of the complex situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and its rash intervention in the South China Sea issue is tantamount to bringing humiliation on itself.
The Boxer Rebellion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries surprised the Western powers at that time, who underestimated the national sentiment of the Chinese people and paid a heavy price, and now Germany seems to be repeating the mistakes of the past, trying to use Western thinking to understand and influence Eastern affairs.
Germany's move is not entirely unreasonable, as a country that wants to play an important role in the international arena, Germany naturally hopes to have its own influence in various regions of the world, the problem is that influence can not be established by warships, the real influence of a great power comes from economic strength, cultural attractiveness and recognition of values.
This scene is very similar to the tributary system of ancient China, when China did not need to send troops to influence the surrounding countries, but the neighboring countries took the initiative to worship in order to gain China's recognition and support, and the influence of this soft power was far more lasting and effective than hard power.
If Germany really wants to play a role in the Asia-Pacific region, it might as well do more practical things, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, promote cultural exchanges, and contribute to regional peace and development, so as to win the respect of all countries and truly integrate into Asia-Pacific affairs; if it only follows United States as a "small follower", it will not only not help to enhance its own status, but may damage its own national interests.
Germany's move also reflects Western countries' anxiety about China's rise, which fears that China will break the existing international order and threaten their vested interests, in fact, China has repeatedly stressed the need to follow the path of peaceful development and advocate the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. This concern in Western countries stems more from misunderstanding and prejudice against China.
In the face of the provocation of Germany's warships, China chose restraint and rationality, which precisely reflects China's self-confidence and wisdom as a great power.
In Sun Tzu's Art of War, "the first army is to attack and strategize, the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the army, and then the next is to attack the city." "China's response is to use superb diplomatic wisdom to defuse the provocations of its adversaries, and in today's complex international situation, the use of force at every turn will only lead to more contradictions and conflicts.
Those truly great countries often have extraordinary strategic determination, and the United States also maintained a long period of restraint in the face of Japan's provocation in the early days of World War II, until the outbreak of Pearl Harbor, and United States officially entered the war, and this strategic determination eventually helped United States win the war.
China's response can also be seen as a "static brake" strategy, in which China did not act lightly in the face of the provocation of Germany warships, but chose to watch and wait, which avoided further deterioration of the situation and gave Germany a chance to reconsider its policy.
In international relations, sometimes immobility is the best response, China's attitude not only shows the demeanor of a great power, but also leaves room for maneuver in future Sino-German relations, Germany, as a European economic power, has a wide range of cooperation space with China, and there is no need for the two sides to affect long-term interests because of temporary conflicts.
Germany's warship operation is more of a political statement than a real military threat, and in this case, China's choice to respond to all changes is precisely the wisest thing to do, which not only avoids escalation but also occupies the moral high ground.
Through superb diplomatic wisdom and strategic determination, China has defused Germany's provocation and won the initiative in the field of international public opinion, the game in international relations is often more complicated than imagined, on the surface it is a military action but it actually hides multiple considerations such as politics, economy, diplomacy, etc., in this complex situation, maintaining calm and rational is the real wisdom.
Both China and Germany are important players on the world stage, and the relationship between the two countries should not be defined by a single warship operation, but should seek win-win opportunities for cooperation with long-term interests in an increasingly interconnected world.
In international relations, strength is important, but wisdom is even more crucial, and a truly strong country must have the determination to safeguard its own interests, and even more importantly, the wisdom to resolve contradictions.
"The road knows the horsepower, and the people will see it for a long time." The development of international relations needs the test of time, and as long as all countries can uphold reason and wisdom, the world will eventually become more peaceful and prosperous.
China and Germany, as well as the international community as a whole, can learn from this incident and contribute to building a better world. How do you think each of us should deal with the changes in the international situation?
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2024-09-14 10:33· Naturally, after crossing the Taiwan Strait, the German warship rushed south, the true purpose was exposed, and China was full of determination
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