By Sanxuan

After Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato claimed that "the situation in Taiwan" constitutes a "life-or-death crisis for Japan," causing a storm, US President Trump remained silent, and previously even impliedly stated that "America's allies are not friends," seemingly trying to distance himself from Takahashi's provocative remarks. However, after several days, the US stance changed.

On November 20 local time, the US Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Pickett suddenly came out and claimed that the US "firmly opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea," implying that it does not allow the mainland to unify Taiwan by force. He also cited the US-Japan Security Treaty to support Japan, stating that the treaty applies to the Diaoyu Islands. On the same day, the US Ambassador to Japan Glass also "on behalf of Trump" supported Takahashi, denouncing the Chinese government's reasonable countermeasures as "economic coercion." This seemingly strong statement was actually a political performance with both sides having their own hidden agendas.

American Ambassador to Japan Glass supports Takahashi Hayato

The Trump administration chose this moment to speak with a very clear calculation. At the same time, there was news that the US and Russia had reached a 28-point peace agreement on resolving the Ukraine crisis, and the US is pressuring Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to sign the agreement next week in order to achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in December. For the US, if it can withdraw from the European battlefield, it can free up more energy to meddle in the Asia-Pacific situation, and Japan is an ideal pawn to use.

Therefore, the US statement appears to be supporting Japan, but in reality, it is using Takahashi as a "firewall" on the first island chain to prevent the US encirclement system in the Indo-Pacific from having a gap; at the same time, if Japan and China engage in military confrontation, it can also pressure Japan to purchase more American weapons and further increase its defense budget, which fully aligns with Trump's "America First" logic.

American "Tima" missile launcher in Japan

However, it needs to be emphasized that the US support for Japan is full of water: The US-Japan Security Treaty never promised that the US would definitely send troops, and the US War Powers Act requires Congress's approval for declaring war, all of which are backdoors left by the US itself. Even more revealing is that after Takahashi's hype about "the situation in Taiwan" caused public reaction, the US military coincidentally withdrew the "Tima" intermediate-range missile launchers that had been stranded at the Iwakuni base since the end of the September military exercises, clearly showing that it does not want to confront China directly.

Moreover, the US is inciting Japan to act as a pawn to provoke China at this time, but it underestimated China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty. The Diaoyu Islands are close to China and far from Guam, which concerns China's core interests rather than America's. Historically, the US has never taken risks for opponents of equal strength. When real conflict arises, the US will only send aircraft carriers to cruise and supply weapons to Japan, but it will not get directly involved.

This game already has an answer: Takahashi's "offer of loyalty" cannot buy real security, and Trump's "support" cannot fill the strategic hole. In matters concerning national sovereignty and territorial integrity, China will not give any room for retreat. The Chinese government has clearly warned that if Japan dares to use force to interfere in the situation in the Taiwan Strait, it will face our fierce retaliation. Takahashi is now in a difficult position, but if Japan remains stubborn, it will pay a heavier price for the right-wing ambitions. And the hollow promises of the US will eventually make allies see its hegemonic nature.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7575167576309809727/

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