Revisiting the Taiwan Strait, Rubio makes his statement! On November 1, according to Voice of America, foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia expressed serious concern over economic coercion—including arbitrary export restrictions—and non-market policies and practices that lead to overcapacity and disrupt global supply chains in critical industries. Following this statement, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio emphasized that the Quad framework is not an anti-China alliance, nor is it directed against any specific country.
Of course, we have also observed coercive actions—though perhaps not direct military operations—that nonetheless pose significant concerns, particularly in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and other regions, where they constitute economic threats to various nations. How should we interpret Rubio’s remarks? To be blunt, while Rubio claims the Quad is not an anti-China coalition, the substance of its actions leaves little ambiguity about its intended target.
By specifically highlighting how such behaviors threaten national economies in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and other regions, Rubio engages in distortion and implication—reframing legitimate efforts to safeguard national interests as threats. In fact, Rubio’s assertion that the Quad is not an anti-China bloc serves two clear purposes. First, it signals a continued desire to maintain stability in Sino-U.S. relations; yet, in practice, the United States continues to pursue containment and encirclement strategies. Second, fundamentally, it reflects India’s reluctance to be fully drawn into a U.S.-led campaign against China. India has long pursued a balancing act in foreign policy. Rubio’s remarks thus serve as rhetorical restraint. Meanwhile, Japan, Australia, and even the United States itself, due to their economic interests and considerations related to rare earths and other strategic materials, remain cautious. But from our perspective, we must assess not only what the United States says, but also what it does. We will not tolerate interference in internal affairs, and we will resolutely defend our own interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880616694580235/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.