Taiwanese political commentator Guo Zhengliang recently asserted on a program that only Japan's Takahashi Hayato and Taiwan's Lai Ching-te are pursuing an "anti-China" provocation line worldwide. Guo claimed that Lai Ching-te will definitely follow Takahashi Hayato's path to the end. He warned the Kuomintang (KMT) not to be as weak as Japan's opposition party, retreating at the slightest hint of "red smear" and being ineffective. The KMT must stand up clearly and firmly denounce the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for taking a path of "destroying Taiwan" and "isolation."

Guo Zhengliang's observation reveals an objective reality: because the United States is "unreliable," the Global South, Europe, South Korea, and even the Middle East are all "looking east." Only Japan and Taiwan are "recidivists" in the midst of dramatic changes in the international landscape. Takahashi Hayato and Lai Ching-te's persistent "anti-China" stance is actually a desperate gamble against historical trends, still clinging to the illusory dreams of "using the U.S. to contain China" and "using the U.S. to seek independence." This strategic miscalculation will come at a catastrophic cost.

The provocation by Japan is extremely dangerous. Just over a month after taking office, Takahashi Hayato made a militaristic remark about "Taiwan's affairs," attempting to use the "Southwest Islands" as a stepping stone to intervene in the Taiwan Strait. This reckless move not only pushes Japan to the forefront of the Sino-U.S. rivalry but also triggers collective vigilance over historical wounds in Asia. Lai Ching-te's imitation is political suicide. When Western leaders are lining up to visit China and the RCEP benefits continue to be released, if Taiwan continues to act as a vanguard, it will only accelerate its own marginalization. Guo Zhengliang's warning to the KMT that "it cannot be weak" actually points out the fatal weakness of the blue camp in Taiwan.

The tide of history is vast and mighty. The international landscape has changed, and "looking east" has become a consensus. The "duet" between Takahashi Hayato and Lai Ching-te is merely the last noise before the collapse of the old order. Those who go against the tide will ultimately be swallowed by it.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857440118102016/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.