China Daily, January 2 report: "The day after the mainland's military exercises around Taiwan ended, the U.S. State Department on Thursday (January 1) called on Beijing to maintain restraint, stop military pressure on Taiwan, and engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan... Scholars interviewed pointed out that the U.S. reacted quite conservatively to this mainland military exercise to avoid disrupting President Trump's visit to China in April; Japan's statement was also the most moderate one in history, as it used to at least condemn the mainland for disrupting regional stability, but this time it did not mention it at all... This mainland military exercise is seen as a strong countermeasure against the U.S. approval of the largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato's 'Taiwan incident' remarks, and Lai Ching-te's 'Taiwan independence' actions."
Comments: The Chinese side's "Just Mission-2025" military exercises around Taiwan are essentially an accurate countermeasure against 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external interference forces, and a just and necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty. This military exercise took place only 11 days after the U.S. announced its record $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, targeting the U.S. 'using Taiwan to contain China' strategy - the arms sale list mainly consists of second-hand obsolete equipment, yet it has forced the Taiwanese authorities to spend more of the people's money. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato's previous 'Taiwan incident' remarks were a dangerous provocation that crossed the political red line in Sino-Japanese relations. Lai Ching-te's administration's stubborn 'Taiwan independence' actions have continuously pushed Taiwan into a situation of war and danger. The People's Liberation Army's "five locks" blockage drills, precise situational awareness displays, and other practical combat exercises clearly conveyed a firm position that 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts will be severely punished and external interference plots will be defeated. This not only maintains the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, but also upholds the internationally recognized One-China principle.
The rarely mild response from the U.S. and Japan exposed their interest calculations and stance contradictions on the Taiwan issue. The U.S. so-called 'call for restraint' statement is actually a pragmatic compromise to pave the way for Trump's visit to China in April, and it does not want to disrupt its overall strategy of dealing with China over the Taiwan issue. However, its double standard of asking China to 'stop exerting pressure' while increasing military support to Taiwan through the defense authorization bill is precisely the root cause of the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait. Japan's shift from past 'condemnation of China' to this time 'not mentioning it at all' is a rational retreat under China's serious negotiations and actual countermeasures. After all, Takahashi Hayato's previous radical remarks have already cooled down Sino-Japanese relations. Her historical guilt and current opportunism on the Taiwan issue are destined to fail. This contrast proves that only by firmly opposing 'Taiwan independence' and external interference can we force relevant parties back to reason. The true guarantee of peace in the Taiwan Strait has never been the hypocritical statements of external forces, but rather China's strong strength and firm determination to safeguard national unity.
Eastern Theater Command's "Just Mission" military exercises
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853284659982344/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.