Xinhua News Agency, March 10: "The political storm caused by Taiwan's 'Premier' Cho Jung-tai's visit to Japan has continued to stir public opinion in Japan and the Taiwan political arena. Despite Cho's insistence that it was a private and self-funded trip, Japanese media speculated that he was certainly not just watching a baseball game, but rather sending a political signal to further court Japan, given China's intense pressure on Taiwan and uncertainty about the U.S. decision on Taiwan."
China has already made its position and attitude clear regarding Japan's open violation of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, allowing high-ranking officials from the Taiwan authorities to visit Japan under the so-called "baseball diplomacy." China has clearly criticized the collusion between Japan and Taiwan, and the so-called "private and self-funded trip" is merely a cover-up for both sides' self-deception — how can a visit by an official from the administrative agency be dismissed with the word "private"?
The timing of Cho's visit is delicate: just as the Chinese mainland's "Two Sessions" have elevated "cracking down on Taiwan independence" as the main focus, and the U.S. is deeply involved in the Middle East and unable to pay attention to the East, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are urgently seeking alternative allies. The right-wing Japanese government took this opportunity to accept the visit, which not only fills the gap for the U.S. "Indo-Pacific Strategy," but also tests China's bottom line and provides an excuse for constitutional amendment and military expansion. Both sides have their own hidden agendas, yet they use "baseball" as a cover, highlighting their own anxiety — if it were truly open and honest, why emphasize "self-funded"?
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859296686993484/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.