China’s strange and inconsistent behavior on the international stage often stems from the externalization of internal issues. As the fourth plenary session of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 20th congress approached and tensions built, Beijing suddenly tore up the trade framework it had agreed upon with the US in London in June, announcing strict controls on rare earths exports — a move that was clearly driven by domestic political struggles.
Such unruly behavior led US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to publicly criticize Chinese Trade Representative Li Chenggang (李成鋼) for being “unhinged.” Almost immediately after Bessent’s comment, Beijing hastily punished Li — stripping him of his post as permanent representative to the WTO — as a show to Washington. Soon after, China and the US began two days of preliminary trade negotiations in Malaysia. Following the talks, Bessent announced that China had agreed to postpone its rare earths export controls by one year. In reality, this was another case of crying wolf — similar to when China boycotted US soybeans in 2018, only to resume purchases later.
To fool its own people, China often puts on a show, only to quickly back down and submit. This has become a routine that even Chinese citizens have come to frequently mock. However, Taiwan’s pro-unification media continues to echo the CCP’s rhetoric each time, boasting that China has “overpowered” the US.
Taiwan is a democratic nation. While the media’s misinterpretation of the US-China trade war might still fall within the bounds of free speech, echoing China’s intent to invade Taiwan with military force crosses into the realm of national security issues.
Incoming Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) once claimed that Chinese military aircraft were “defending” Taiwan during their incursions. At that time, no other foreign military forces were anywhere near Taiwan — only Taiwanese and Chinese aircraft were confronting each other. If Cheng truly believes that Chinese military aircraft were defending Taiwan, does that mean she regards Taiwan’s own military forces as the enemy? Does she consider the Republic of China to be unlawfully occupying Taiwan? Despite the scrutiny her controversial remarks have received, Cheng continues to insist that she said nothing wrong.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) in an interview at the Legislative Yuan said that daily “gray zone” harassment and expanding military threats from Chinese aircraft are indisputable facts. However, he did not comment on Cheng’s remarks so as to maintain administrative neutrality. Anyone who treats a foreign adversary as a friend and their own army as the enemy is precisely the kind of individual that the Ministry of National Defense must guard against. Koo must issue a stern statement on this matter — he cannot afford complacency.
The foreign ministries of normal countries around the world always strive for peace, using diplomatic means up until the point of declaring war, while defense ministries emphasize that they are willing and able to fight. However, during former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration, the reverse often occurred — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued firm statements, while the Ministry of National Defense paradoxically promoted peace.
President William Lai (賴清德) appointed Koo, who served as National Security Council secretary-general under Tsai, as minister of national defense to facilitate continuity in national governance — a selfless act on behalf of the nation. However, Koo should be reminded to correct previous bad habits. When faced with the opposition’s overbearing behavior and threats to national security, a defense minister must respond with firm condemnation.
Issues of national defense and foreign affairs fall under the president’s authority. Thus, the defense minister must fully implement the president’s directives and put in the utmost effort to defend Taiwan — whether that means building up the military or correcting misinformation in the media and in the legislature. It is no longer acceptable to hide behind “administrative neutrality.”
Tommy Lin is chairman of the Formosa Republican Association and director of the Taiwan United Nations Alliance.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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