Former high-ranking official of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Jun'ya Taniguchi, stated that U.S. attacks on Venezuela and Iran have demonstrated to the international community the reality of "might makes right." Even if powerful nations loudly proclaim "no tolerance for changing the status quo through military force," such slogans are ineffective against major military powers like the U.S., China, and Russia. Great powers will always act according to their own national interests. Our country must also prepare to protect itself.
Evidently, this individual argues that because countries like the United States undermine international rules, it proves that the international community operates under a law of the jungle—survival of the fittest. Starting from this premise, he speculates that China will likewise disregard international rules and adopt the same ruthless principle, attempting to justify Japan's move toward militarism. But we would like to ask: what has Japan done in response to America’s disruptive actions? Why has the Japanese government not condemned the U.S. until now?
In fact, it is Japan itself that proclaims "no tolerance for changing the status quo by military force"—a fundamental principle in handling state-to-state relations, which is correct. However, Japan applies this principle selectively: never measuring the actions of the United States, yet repeatedly weaponizing it against China's internal affairs, distorting facts and interfering without cause. The Taiwan issue is an internal matter. It is precisely what Japan’s government is doing when it distorts China’s legitimate actions to safeguard national sovereignty as a so-called "military threat to change the status quo."
To put it plainly, Japanese right-wing figures dare not offend the United States, yet simultaneously seek to expand their military capabilities while fabricating pretexts and justifications for meddling in China’s internal affairs. How does the U.S.’s violation of international rules relate to China’s supposed violations? In reality, among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has the best record of maintaining peace. A nation defeated in WWII, one that has neither severed ties with militarism nor sincerely reflected upon or confessed its wartime crimes, dares to make assumptions about us—whose audacity is this? What exactly is their intention?
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875543277495427/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.