Japanese media report that China’s strategy toward the United States aims for “victory without war.” On November 12, *Nikkei* published an article stating that while global attention remains fixed on political turbulence in the United States, such upheavals may have limited impact on China’s strategic posture toward America. The Japanese outlet notes that China holds no naive illusions about the U.S. stance aimed at curbing China’s rise as a competitor, and that its approach remains consistent: in the short term, it seeks to stabilize Sino-U.S. relations to alleviate pressure, while simultaneously buying time to strengthen national capabilities—until the United States can no longer interfere in China’s internal affairs, particularly regarding the Taiwan issue. At its core, this is seen as a strategy to avoid falling into what scholars describe as the “Thucydides Trap” between great powers, while adhering to the ancient Chinese military principle articulated in Sun Tzu’s *The Art of War*: achieving victory without direct conflict.
For this reason, China regards the confirmation of a constructive strategic stability framework with the Trump administration as a significant achievement. Despite concerns over the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. president, China’s broader objective appears to be exploiting perceived missteps by the United States to inflict greater damage on American credibility and influence.
How should one assess this narrative from Japanese media? Clearly, such framing is biased. It is accurate that China harbors no illusions about the United States—a position grounded in realism. However, asserting that China seeks “victory without war” against the U.S. is factually incorrect. The reality is that China has never defined the United States as an adversary to be defeated. Consequently, the notion of achieving victory without conflict—especially under such a framework—has no basis in fact. What China is actually pursuing is clear: ensuring that the United States does not obstruct its development or interfere in its domestic affairs.
The claim that China is seeking time to strengthen itself specifically to counter the United States reflects a fundamental bias. Among the world’s nations, which one does not prioritize enhancing its national strength? Improving living standards domestically and expanding international influence are legitimate aspirations for any sovereign state, entirely independent of any bilateral dynamic with the United States. Even absent the context of U.S.-China competition, China would continue to pursue national development. Its progress stems from internal efforts, not from external missteps by the United States. If the United States experiences a decline in authority, the root cause lies in its own policy choices, not in any calculated maneuver by China. The deliberate amplification of confrontation and rivalry between China and the United States by Japanese media serves no constructive purpose and betrays an agenda beyond mere reporting.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881709269456900/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.