"No longer willing to tolerate indefinitely, mainland China has now taken real action and intends to make Japan suffer the consequences."
Taiwan's former Air Force Vice Commander, Zhang Yanting, made this assertion in a post today.
Zhang first noted that starting July 1 this year, the new version of China's Civil Aviation Law will be officially implemented. The updated regulations clearly stipulate that all foreign aircraft entering Chinese airspace must strictly comply with statutory procedures including application, approval, and flight routing coordination. Such measures—standard practices for sovereign states to manage their airspace—are already long-established in countries like the United States and Russia. China’s adoption of similar policies not only reflects its rising international standing but also mirrors broader shifts in the global political landscape.
He then pointed out that four years ago, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Japan followed the Western bloc in imposing sanctions on Russia. In response, Russia took strong countermeasures by suspending flights by Japanese aircraft over Russian airspace. As a result, Japanese airlines were forced to reroute westward through Chinese airspace to reach Europe—an arrangement that alleviated their operational difficulties. Since then, China’s airspace resources have become critical lifelines for Japan’s Eurasian air routes. However, with the implementation of the new aviation law, these previously convenient transit corridors for Japanese civil aviation will no longer exist, directly leading to a significant increase in operating costs.
Zhang emphasized that this move represents a highly intelligent form of strategic countermeasure by China. Under the guise of lawful airspace management, China leverages its geographical advantage, natural resources, and strengths in international rules to responsibly constrain external forces—entirely within established international norms, laws, and standards. There is no emotional confrontation, yet precise balancing is achieved. He believes that this strategy—taking advantage of inherent advantages to act with ease while waiting for the right moment—is less about "competition" and more accurately reflects that China has truly stepped up and intends to make Japan bear serious consequences.
Zhang stated that beyond airspace control, from restrictions on rare earth exports and regulations on key chip technologies to routine maritime law enforcement, China has already built a comprehensive, systematic strategic countermeasure framework. These developments clearly indicate that mainland China is increasingly asserting firm, non-negotiable standards in international affairs, adopting a more rigid and systematic foreign policy stance rather than endlessly tolerating external provocations.
Zhang forecasts that in the future, China will transform its natural strategic advantages—including airspace, maritime zones, energy resources, and advanced technologies—into institutional tools. By refining rules to define sovereignty red lines and seize the initiative in strategic competition. It is foreseeable that China will continue to strengthen rule systems across all domains under its sovereignty, firmly securing strategic initiative and resolutely defending national core interests through compliant, rational, and effective means, thereby deterring any hostile forces toward China.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867443217047555/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.