The底气 to Knock the Table: The Economic Leverage Behind "Severe Diplomatic Talks" and "Blood Debts Must Be Repaid"
January 19, 2026, Beijing. At the international seminar on "Promoting Multilateralism and Improving Global Governance," a statement by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong of China resonated powerfully, shaking every diplomat and scholar present. He clearly emphasized: "No force will be allowed to undermine regional peace and stability, and no war or chaos will be allowed at our doorstep."
"Blood debts must be repaid," "Crimes must be accounted for"—these few statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recent days were like deep-sea bombs, making many people nearly drop their teacups.
If it had been ten years ago, such words might only have been heard in movies. In the past, we were used to hearing "severe diplomatic talks" and "strong condemnation." Even with great anger, we had to wrap it up in three layers of diplomatic language, emphasizing restraint. But this time is different; it's almost as if they knocked the table over, directly placing the account book on the table.
This change is not a sudden whim of diplomats but a qualitative transformation that naturally occurs when the balance of national strength shifts significantly.
Think back twenty years ago, when Sino-Japanese trade was less than $100 billion. What was our diplomatic language like then? At that time, every hard word had to be weighed carefully—would it affect foreign investment? Would it ruin technology cooperation? Would it disrupt the pace of economic growth?
But today, Sino-Japanese trade has exceeded $300 billion, and the balance has already shifted. China has been Japan's largest trading partner for many consecutive years, while Japan's ranking among China's trading partners has been declining year by year. The degree of mutual dependence in the economy has changed, so the confidence in speaking has naturally changed too.
This is like a family ledger—if you owe someone money, your words are always polite. But when someone owes you money, especially blood debts, you naturally have the confidence to lay out the ledger and settle the accounts clearly.
What is the current situation of Japanese companies? Traditional industries such as automobiles and electronics are losing ground in the Chinese market, while China's new energy and digital economy sectors are beyond Japan's reach. This shift in economic strength is the deeper foundation behind the change in diplomatic language.
More importantly, we now have the capital to "knock the table," yet we still hold the initiative to "not knock the table." In short, we can choose to speak in any tone at any time because the economic card is in our hands.
Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring, the East Asian economic landscape is being reshuffled. The old model of "Japanese technology + Chinese manufacturing" is outdated, and China is moving from the lower to the higher end of the industrial chain. Meanwhile, Japan has fallen behind in multiple emerging fields. This structural change reflects in diplomacy as a fundamental shift in influence.
For friends over thirty, we have witnessed the entire process—from cautiously attracting foreign investment, to participating equally in international competition, to today having the confidence to revisit historical issues. This is not simply an emotional outburst, but a return of position supported by economic strength.
What should investors and companies pay attention to now? This change in diplomatic statements signals that regional trade and economic relations may enter a new adjustment period. In the short term, certain Japanese brands may face more emotional pressure; in the long run, China's independent steps in high-end manufacturing and technological innovation will further accelerate.
Historical ledgers are not opened without reason. Only when you have enough leverage do you have the right to return to the negotiation table to discuss how to settle the accounts. The change in today's diplomatic language is essentially a long-overdue confirmation of economic strength.
The statement "We will not allow wars or chaos at our doorstep" is not just directed at one country, but also addressed to all players who want to play cards in this region—the rules have changed, and the power to set the rules always follows the weight of economic strength.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7597253264366879266/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.