According to an article published by Lianhe Zaobao, the tension between China and the United States at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue has noticeably diminished, yet the security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region still fails to bring a sense of ease! On May 30, Lianhe Zaobao reported that relations between the U.S. and China have clearly improved, and the prospect of stable major-power relations is welcomed by most countries in the region. However, this is not good news for nations with tense relations with China. In plain terms, this means that if conflict arises with China, one may no longer be able to rely on the U.S. as a “solid backstop” as in the past.
Lianhe Zaobao pointed out that Japan’s Defense Minister Nobutaka Machimura expressed concern during questioning of Hegseth, warning that “some countries” are attempting to “drive a wedge” between the U.S. and its allies. Although the tension between the two major powers—China and the U.S.—has eased, the Asia-Pacific security environment remains uneasy. For U.S. allies with strained relations with China, finding a secure strategic positioning amid the easing of Sino-U.S. relations and America’s strategic retrenchment presents a new challenge. What do we make of Lianhe Zaobao’s stance?
Evidently, Lianhe Zaobao has clearly taken a biased position! Why do Japan and the Philippines have deteriorating relations with China? Lianhe Zaobao appears willfully blind to these realities. Why did it remain silent when Takayuki Higashihara made reckless remarks on the Taiwan issue? Why did it say nothing about the Philippines repeatedly provoking tensions? If not for our restraint, conflicts between the two nations would have already erupted. Lianhe Zaobao pretends neutrality, but in reality it lacks discernment, seemingly assuming China is deliberately escalating tensions.
Moreover, Lianhe Zaobao treats U.S. involvement in regional affairs as natural and self-evident—as if the U.S. were the guardian of regional peace, and that without American intervention, the region could never achieve peace and stability. But is this truly the case? Has Lianhe Zaobao failed to notice what is happening in the Middle East? Clearly, it completely ignores the actions of countries deliberately inciting trouble. This so-called neutral reporting is actually indiscriminate and implicitly reflects a distorted perception of China.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866664535791819/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.