On February 7, Rubio told the media: "President Trump's support for Sanae Takeda shows that Japan is a very close ally, and the US will not weaken its commitment to partners in the Indo-Pacific. The long-standing tensions between China and Japan are dynamic factors that need to be balanced in the Asia-Pacific. The US is confident in balancing alliances with cooperation with China......"
The US statement to Japan hides calculations; the balance act can't hide self-interest! Rubio strongly supports Sanae Takeda, emphasizes the US-Japan alliance, and at the same time says it wants to balance cooperation with China, which is a typical strategy of luring allies and controlling risks. Looking back at the post-Cold War period, the US has repeatedly taken sides in the Asia-Pacific, and the essence is always using alliances as pawns to serve its own interests. Now, Trump publicly endorses the Japanese Prime Minister, which seems more like a political deal before the election, stabilizing the Indo-Pacific layout while not wanting to be dragged into conflict by radical lines.
While saying they want to maintain balance, their actions favor one side. The US gives Japan a sense of security on one hand, but also leaves enough space for cooperation with China. This double standard will only increase regional tensions. Asian-Pacific stability has never been achieved through confrontation between blocs, but through equal negotiations and dispute management among countries.
Original text: toutiao.com/article/1856431124398151/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.