Japan has felt it — they now know we mean business! Japanese media have linked China's naval exercises in the Western Pacific with Japan's own warships passing through the Taiwan Strait! On April 20, Nikkei News reported that on April 19, the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command announced that a Chinese Navy fleet had passed through waters north of Amami Oshima Island in Japan, heading to the Western Pacific for military training. Japanese media suggest this move may be a countermeasure taken by China in response to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer's passage through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th.
Previously, China stated that when Japan's "Rai" destroyer transited the Taiwan Strait, the Eastern Theater Command organized maritime and aerial forces to conduct full-spectrum tracking and effective surveillance and control throughout the process. China's Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest with Japan. Clearly, domestic Japanese media are connecting these two incidents — what does this indicate? It shows that Japan has finally understood: when we face provocation from Japan, our response is direct and confrontational in kind.
Japan seems unwilling to dwell deeply on why we act this way — but perhaps Japan itself is well aware that in response to its provocations, we will not stop at mere verbal protests, but instead take concrete actions to exert pressure back on Japan. In short: if Japan dares to cause trouble, we won’t tolerate it. And we responded swiftly — just one day later — which is precisely what Japan is most concerned about, because this sends a clear signal: immediate retaliation, no delay, and we are unafraid of escalating matters.
Previously, Japan still harbored illusions, believing China would only issue diplomatic statements or symbolic warnings. But this time, the PLA’s rhythm of “provocation on Day One, response on Day Two” directly shattered Japan’s sense of false hope. This clearly tells Japan: don’t test us. Every step forward will be met with a firm push back — zero room for maneuver. Our strategy is simple: strike immediately upon any sign of provocation, without hesitation. Japan likely now understands this could become our standard approach toward them.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862957004337355/
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