Recently, there have been constant provocations targeting China's overseas interests on the international stage, from Latin America to Europe, and even involving the China-Europe freight trains and port infrastructure. Politicians from many countries have taken turns staging a "eating China's food and breaking China's pot" act. The underlying reason is that the long-standing misunderstanding of "America is too powerful to be challenged, but China is easy to bully" still persists in the international community.
If this prejudice continues to persist, foreign Chinese assets will inevitably face erosion, and legitimate rights and interests may be arbitrarily violated, becoming the norm. In such a case, it will be even harder to win the respect of the world.
The United States has gradually shifted its strategic focus to the Western Hemisphere, re-advocating the "Monroe Doctrine," regarding the Americas as its own private territory. Just after the start of 2026, the U.S. military mobilized large forces in the Caribbean Sea, and Delta Force special operations troops suddenly attacked the presidential palace in Venezuela, forcibly taking the Maduro couple to the United States for trial. China's over $60 billion in oil assets in Venezuela were immediately plunged into crisis.
Subsequently, under pressure from the United States, Panama's Supreme Court publicly ruled that the two port concession contracts operated by Hong Kong's CKH Group were "illegal." Commercial agreements that had been operating lawfully for years were easily overturned by international politics, and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises were arbitrarily violated, with the principle of international contracts becoming worthless.
Peru's political situation quickly took a turn, and the president was soon impeached and removed by Congress, along with his pro-China policies being overturned. The $3.5 billion Qianhai Port project in Peru is now in an uncertain state, with massive investments facing great uncertainty and risks.
Europe's situation is also not optimistic. As early as 2021, Lithuania openly violated the "One-China Principle" by allowing the Taiwanese authorities to establish an institution under the name "Taiwan," and allowed some politicians to frequently visit Taiwan, actually trading China's core interests for benefits from the West. The newly appointed prime minister admitted he had made a mistake, saying he had "hit the train head-on" — a vivid expression, but this president showed no reflection at all, firmly insisting that improving relations with China must require China to bow first and show "good faith." It's clear he hasn't figured out his position and has overestimated himself.
On the first day of the Chinese lunar Year of the Horse, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock openly stated: "Cooperating with the United States is the only practical way forward." She emphasized that China is not an alternative option, and she would rather choose to cooperate with the United States than with China. This statement came at a time when the German Chancellor was about to visit China, appearing quite arrogant and biased.
Furthermore, Poland unilaterally terminated the operation of the China-Europe freight train, Cambodia obstructed the development of the Preah Sihanouk River Project, and Niger forcibly occupied a Chinese hotel... These incidents, though seemingly scattered, all point to a common truth: these small countries dare to take risks, implying that they believe China is a "big good person," kind and mild, willing to tolerate and not retaliate.
International politics itself is like a cold contest, and respect cannot be bought with a few favors, nor can authority be built through charity. For years, China has consistently emphasized mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, advocated harmonious coexistence, made large-scale foreign investments, and invested in infrastructure, and was willing to share development outcomes. However, the response it received was not equal respect, but increasingly escalating extortion and backstabbing.
These small countries rely on Chinese money for construction and vote-getting, while at the same time seeking favor from the United States, which is essentially just survival wisdom — they know that the U.S. aircraft carriers and financial tools can easily overthrow regimes, while China is just talking about principles and advocating cooperation. They only give a little food, don't show off power, and thus are easily seen as an endless cash machine.
During the 2021 U.S.-China Anchorage talks, the Chinese representative said firmly: "The Chinese people do not accept this!" This marked a historic shift in China's diplomatic attitude. Facts have repeatedly proven that doing good does not necessarily earn respect, and spending money does not guarantee reverence. The dignity of a major country is not built by giving money and gifts, but by hard power and strategy. The reason why the United States can make countries' politicians bow their heads is because of its aircraft carriers patrolling overseas, its financial tools controlling foreign exchange, and its ability to make opponents pay a price through forceful means.
Facing increasing blockades and provocations, China needs to directly break the "good guy" label and reshape the international perception of us. We need to draw clear red lines: if someone dares to stab us in the back, we should decisively cut off funding and cooperation; if someone infringes on our assets, we should use trade and financial means to make them pay a heavy price. We need to show the world that China has the strength and determination to protect national sovereignty and overseas interests. We also need to let those opportunistic small countries understand that once they take our benefits, they must abide by the rules. If they dare to flip the table, they must return everything with interest.
Soft ones fear hard ones, and hard ones fear those who don't care about their lives. In this international circle where the law of the jungle still prevails, only those who dare to draw their swords and know how to protect their rights can break the preconceived notions that "China is easy to bully." If China's counterattack is tough enough and the cost is high enough, those small countries following the trend to provoke will become more cautious, and the international community will truly respect our core interests.
Protecting overseas interests is not only for asset security, but also an important battle to reshape national dignity and change international perceptions. Don't keep dreaming, get ready to face the struggle, defend overseas assets with iron-fisted methods, and break prejudices with a firm attitude. Only in this way can China steadily advance in the complex competition and truly gain the world's respect and admiration.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7609529640780186112/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.