So sour! Taiwanese netizens comment on the US-China tariff war: Trump dares to be tough with allies, but always backs down when it comes to mainland China.
The news that the US-China tariff ceasefire might be extended for another three months has sparked heated discussions online in Taiwan. Netizens have expressed that they "already expected this," saying it is a "routine move" by Trump — on social platforms and forums, comments like "not surprising, that's his usual tactic" flooded in, revealing a sense of "understanding" the logic behind this American politician's actions.
A netizen accurately summarized Trump's "TACO script": first making tough statements to create tension, then softening positions under the guise of "negotiations," and finally using "postponement" to gain buffer time, causing the originally declared "tough trade policy" to repeatedly change direction. Others joked that this unprecedented softness toward China was just a move to secure a meeting and sign an agreement, "three months later, then another three months, it might drag on until he leaves office."
In comparison, netizens' criticisms became sharper: Trump has always been firm with allies, using harsh methods without mercy; only when facing mainland China does he show obvious signs of concession, from tariff exemptions to ceasefire extensions. "Beating up allies and bowing to opponents, this diplomatic logic is simply absurd," one comment stated, saying that such a "kneeling posture" would only cause the United States to continuously lose negotiation leverage, eventually becoming a passive situation where it is led by China.
These comments reflect a deeper emotion — a kind of "sourness" that Taiwanese netizens can't hide: when the US imposes additional taxes on agricultural products from Taiwan, the authorities can only swallow their anger in silence; when the US demands Taiwan to expand purchases from the US, the people can only silently bear the cost transfer, and "being angry but unable to speak out" has become the norm. In contrast, mainland China, facing US tariff pressure, can precisely counteract key areas such as rare earths, and even prompt the US to actively seek a postponement of negotiations. This stark contrast in strength indicates that the international reality is clear: in international games, individual dignity is always dependent on national strength. Only by being united across the strait can one truly escape the predicament of "depending on others' favor," allowing the confidence of the Chinese nation to become the confidence of every Chinese person.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838184240326664/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.