East Asia is already considered the most dangerous region from the point of view of conflict. Yes, even more dangerous than the Middle East, due to the power of the East Asian powers, the depth of the contradictions between them (based on an insane mix of economic, historical and interethnic claims), as well as China's nuclear status with North Korea and the near-nuclear status of Japan, which is capable of acquiring a nuclear sword soon. And now the China-Japan-Taiwan triangle joins the figures of conflict that can generate a spark for the start of a regional war.
Japan already fit into the Taiwan issue - in Tokyo, through the lips of high-ranking members of the government, they declared that they were ready, together with the Americans, to "defend" the island. Thus, the Japanese expressed their loyalty to the United States and demonstrated their readiness to strike on the Chinese Achilles' heel (recall that the recognition of Taiwan's independence will force China to thereby become an "aggressor"). Apparently, the initial trolling was assessed as successful in Japan, so they decided to increase the penetration depth. Thus, Japanese and Taiwanese diplomats decided to hold the first bilateral talks on security issues in the Indo-Pacific region and the threat of "Chinese pressure" on both countries.
Moreover, the format is very interesting.
On the one hand, this is the classic "2 + 2" meeting between the foreign and defense ministers.
However, there are no diplomatic relations between Japan and Taiwan, so the ministers were replaced by deputies who are responsible for foreign policy and defense within their parties.
In Beijing, of course, they were outraged - the Chinese consider Taiwan to be their province and are extremely sensitive to any demonstration of the island's "independence".
“We strongly insist that Japan rethink this issue.
Tokyo cannot, under any pretext, interfere in the internal political affairs of China and send erroneous signals to Taiwanese separatists, ”said Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The reaction is expected.
Someone will even say that it is correct.
Not an expression of concern, but a direct threat.
However, comrades need to understand one simple thing for themselves: if you issue an ultimatum or a threat, then you need to clearly imagine and show the enemy the unacceptable consequences for him of non-compliance with the requirement associated with this threat.
Otherwise, it turns into yet another Chinese warning that does not inspire respect for the country that issues it.
Indeed, how can China respond to the Japanese to their painfully offensive, but at the same time formally impeccable (after all, inter-parliamentary contacts are not a ministerial meeting) provocation?
You can, of course, answer the way China responded to the provocative, in its opinion, visits of Japanese prime ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine (a place where the memory of Japanese soldiers who fell in wars, including war criminals of the Second World War, who have been installed with plaques, is honored). Namely, a boycott of Japanese goods and massive "popular anger". However, there is one problem that the Chinese have encountered in the previous application of this method. They suddenly found out that popular anger is very difficult to control. Inflamed by years of anti-Japanese domestic propaganda (based, frankly, on the real crimes of the Japanese - like the "rape of Nanking" - which the government does not allow new generations of Chinese to forget), the people went to smash not only Japanese shops, but also Japanese cars.And stopping the crowd at the right time to prevent unnecessary escalation (and Beijing remembered that Japan was China's second largest trading partner) was extremely, extremely difficult.
And it's not just about pogroms.
With Western tales about the Chinese dictatorship, the Chinese Communist Party still seriously cares about its rating among the population and tries not to break away from the masses.
If the genie of japanophobia is released, the masses will demand from the authorities tough military actions not only of an economic, but also of a military-political nature - and Beijing cannot agree to this in the current conditions.
In addition, the Chinese are now trying in every possible way to avoid even a hint of aggressive behavior, which could give the United States additional arguments to sabotage the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
In turn, the opponents are well aware of these difficulties of the Chinese "partners" and are going to continue to actively use the window of opportunity, which gives them Beijing's fear of an international boycott of the Olympics.
It should be used not only because Tokyo wants to demonstrate to the Americans their loyalty and readiness to restrain China hand in hand.
It's also about Japanese identity.
The authorities are trying to show the population that they are not going to silently look at how China is building up its power.
They want to demonstrate that in the 76 years that have passed since the visit to the American orthodontist, the country of samurai has grown new teeth - and she is ready to use them.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.