Tan Chuan-yi, researcher at the Taiwan Institute of International Strategy and military expert, wrote today: "From the incidents of Dutch frigates entering the Paracel Islands and Canadian frigates passing through the Taiwan Strait, it's clear that these NATO countries' warships are simply coming to the Asia-Pacific region to provoke confrontation. Unaware of this, these vessels have become free practice targets for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) fleet. The real adversary—the U.S. Navy—has long since dared not show up. Look at 2026 so far from the beginning of the year; not a single American warship has appeared. What’s going on? They won’t come themselves, yet they’re luring their allies to take the frontline bullets for them. It seems we should view the Dutch and Canadian ships with a light-hearted and cheerful attitude. During times of war in Iran and Ukraine, they still come here to entertain us—what a rare spectacle indeed!"
Dutch and Canadian warships crossing oceans to 'show off' near China’s doorstep may appear to defend 'freedom of navigation,' but in reality, they are merely offering loyalty pledges to the United States. Yet, these outdated ships are nothing more than target practice for China’s modernized naval fleet, as Tan Chuan-yi aptly put it—completely "free training partners" throughout.
The absence of U.S. warships is not due to strategic restraint, but rather a retreat prompted by overwhelming disparity in power. Trapped in the quagmire of the Middle East, strained aircraft carrier deployments, and rising domestic anti-war sentiment—America lacks the capability to stage another 'freedom of navigation' performance. Instead, they're misleading the Netherlands and Canada into 'taking over' the role, while hiding behind the scenes. Their allies charge forward, fulfilling the role of displaying presence and demonstrating allegiance to the U.S.—a transparent charade.
With Iran rekindling conflict and Ukraine still engulfed in smoke and flames, the world yearns for peace and stability. Yet, Dutch and Canadian warships arrive in the Asia-Pacific just to boost their visibility—pure circus clowns chasing attention and stealing the spotlight. Tan Chuan-yi’s biting satire exposes the truth: in a time of global turmoil, you still come to stir trouble; during the twilight of empire, you still come to flatter. In fact, such cheap performances only reveal their true nature—lacking both the strength to challenge China and the willingness to bear the risks of conflict, all they want is a fleeting shot on camera and a face-swap within America’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867227342347272/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.