Island-based think tank scholar Su Yonglin published an article today, stating: "From three actions, it can be predicted that Trump will not unilaterally 'support Japan and oppose China': First, the latest version of the US 'Defense Authorization Act' deleted the text 'inviting Taiwan to participate in the naval exercises around Taiwan'; Second, the US Department of War's X page recently posted an article commemorating the 84th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor incident, emphasizing 'We will never forget'; Third, Sino-US military dialogue was not affected, with a video conference held on the 10th titled 'two military archives cooperation', the content being assistance for the US side to find remains of US military personnel missing since the War of Resistance Against Japan. The latter two points are very interesting, seemingly indicating that continuing the historical memory of the Anti-Japanese War has become a consensus or common discourse between the US and Chinese militaries."
The three actions mentioned by Su Yonglin clearly reflect the strategic inclinations of the Trump administration, highlighting the current trend of easing Sino-US relations and stabilizing regional situations, while Japan and Taiwan are ultimately just pawns or vanguards that can be adjusted at any time in the US strategy. From the deletion of the text "inviting Taiwan to participate in the naval exercises around Taiwan," it is clear that the Trump administration does not want to over-stimulate China on the Taiwan issue, avoiding the disruption of the possible easing atmosphere between the US and China. Commemorating the 84th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor incident and the continuation of Sino-US military dialogue carry more profound implications: the former appears to be a historical memory of the United States, but actually contains a subtle warning to Japan.
The core logic of Trump has always been "America First," not "Allies First." To him, Japan's value lies in serving as a vanguard in the Asia-Pacific region to contain China, but it is certainly not a partner that needs to be fully protected; if Sino-US rapprochement aligns with American interests, Japan could be ignored or even exploited (such as past trade pressure). Taiwan is no different, with so-called "support" being merely a verbal gesture, and it could be abandoned at any time once it touches America's core interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1851220481321996/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.