In the world of sport, Japan has come up against both Taiwan and China recently, competing against the latter in the Asian Cup soccer and against the former in baseball at the Athens Olympics. The Japanese teams won on both occasions, but the reactions of the Taiwanese and Chinese fans were in complete contrast. Chinese fans, driven by nationalist sentiment, caused riots, while Taiwanese fans recognized the outstanding performance of their rival, but still felt proud of their achievement.
The reactions to the results of these competitions reflect the general attitudes and socialization on the two sides of the Strait. Japan's soccer and baseball teams are clearly stronger than those of Taiwan or China. That is simply a fact, and the Taiwanese people are able to make a rational judgment about this. Although we hope to see Taiwan win, we do not become emotional and irrational if we do not.
However, the Chinese government, the soccer association and the Chinese media have stirred up nationalism among their people. As a result, the public's emotions could hardly be controlled. This led to attacks on the Japanese team's bus and harassment of its fans.
This difference in the two societies is reflected in their contrasting policies and manner of dealing with the cross-strait issue. Due to the power struggle between Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Premier Yu Shyi-kun's recent comments in New York about China being a "source of chaos" threatening world peace come as no surprise. Government reports indicate that Chinese surveillance ships sailed close to Japanese territorial waters 14 times last year and seven times this year. This threatening behavior has caused considerable unease in Japan. Surveillance ships have also sailed "numerous times" off Taiwan's east coast. In his speech, Yu pointed out that by pushing its surveillance further into the Pacific Ocean, China aims to break through the encirclement of the island chain that stretches from Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines, to project force directly into the Pacific and directly confront the US there. This is a considerable threat to peace in Asia.
The threat of China's military force is not only Taiwan's problem. It also affects Japan, Korea and southeast Asia. Though they all feel the heat, they can only swallow their anger. Even Singapore has bowed before the punitive diplomatic and economic moves made against it after Lee Hsien Loong (
If members of the international community, due to their own selfish concerns, continue to allow China to act against its neighbors with impunity, they will be fostering the creation of a tyrannical regime akin to the Nazis.
China's popular sentiment, political structure and military deployments have become a threat to peace and security in Asia. If the international community does not protest Beijing's immoderate language and actions, they will be a party to this ominous development.
A foreign colleague of mine asked me recently, “What is a safe distance from potential People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force’s (PLARF) Taiwan targets?” This article will answer this question and help people living in Taiwan have a deeper understanding of the threat. Why is it important to understand PLA/PLARF targeting strategy? According to RAND analysis, the PLA’s “systems destruction warfare” focuses on crippling an adversary’s operational system by targeting its networks, especially leadership, command and control (C2) nodes, sensors, and information hubs. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, noted in his 15 May 2025 Sedona Forum keynote speech that, as
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In a world increasingly defined by unpredictability, two actors stand out as islands of stability: Europe and Taiwan. One, a sprawling union of democracies, but under immense pressure, grappling with a geopolitical reality it was not originally designed for. The other, a vibrant, resilient democracy thriving as a technological global leader, but living under a growing existential threat. In response to rising uncertainties, they are both seeking resilience and learning to better position themselves. It is now time they recognize each other not just as partners of convenience, but as strategic and indispensable lifelines. The US, long seen as the anchor
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