DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Conflict & Security

Commentary: China's Military Drills Prompt Unified International Response, Not Sympathy

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Sources not specified Context piece
  • A commentary criticizes the view that China's current leadership understands and sympathizes with Taiwan, contrasting it with increasing international concern over Beijing's military actions.
  • The author argues that China's repeated military drills around Taiwan have led to a unified international response, rather than political coordination.
  • The piece suggests that China's actions, not its rhetoric, are shaping global perceptions and reactions.

A commentary in Taiwan's Liberty Times questions the notion that China's current leadership is the most understanding and sympathetic towards Taiwan. This perspective is challenged by a growing chorus of international voices, including the G7, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and European diplomatic missions, expressing concern over Beijing's recent military activities near the island.

If this is truly a group of people who understand Taiwan the most and sympathize with Taiwan the most in history, why are they also a group of people who make more and more democratic countries openly express their concerns?

— CommentatorQuestioning the assertion that China's leadership is sympathetic to Taiwan in light of international reactions.

Since August 2022, Taiwan has witnessed at least seven major military exercises conducted by China around its periphery. When combined with regular patrols and various forms of "gray zone" military pressure, the Taiwan Strait has experienced near-constant tension. This sustained military posturing has prompted an increasing number of nations to voice similar concerns, characterizing China's actions as threats to regional stability, freedom of navigation, and international shipping safety.

The author posits that this growing international consensus is not a result of political coordination among democratic nations but rather a direct consequence of China's repeated military provocations. The shared judgment, it is argued, stems from observing a consistent pattern of behavior rather than a pre-arranged agreement. This contrasts with the unified statements previously issued by 58 "China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification" organizations worldwide, which were seen as orchestrated propaganda.

The common reaction does not necessarily come from common command, but may come from facing the same behavior.

— CommentatorExplaining the author's view that international responses to China's actions are a result of consistent behavior, not coordination.

The commentary concludes by suggesting that some Taiwanese political figures may be misinterpreting China's military drills as mere performances, like "dragon and lion dances." This misjudgment, the author implies, leads them to believe that Beijing's current leadership is uniquely understanding of Taiwan. Ultimately, the piece emphasizes that the world trusts actions over words, and China's consistent military actions are forging a unified international response.

The world ultimately believes, never in repeated statements, but in repeated actions.

— CommentatorConcluding that China's actions, not its words, are shaping global perceptions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog