By Assunta Ng
Northwest Asia Weekly
The White House meets with former President Trump on October 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Image credit: Shealah Craighead)
The mainland-Taiwan confrontation is partly due to the recent visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis to Taiwan, which has angered China.
The messy US-China-Taiwan relationship is my least favorite topic to blog about. Northwest Asia Weekly and the Seattle Chinese Post have remained neutral in past frictions during our 41-year publishing career.
Our position is the American position. Over the years, we have followed the one-China policy of the United States. China-Taiwan relations are a taboo topic in the Chinese community. No matter which angle I take, I’m going to offend someone. So, even if it’s an unpopular column, why would I take the risk?
There is only one motive. This international conflict offers many lessons that we can follow to improve ourselves in real life.
Beware of double standards
Pelosi hinted that her visit to Taiwan sparked outrage in China because she is a woman.
“They make a fuss because I’m the speaker, I guess. I don’t know if that’s a reason or an excuse,” she added, “because when the men come, they don’t say anything.”
Remember the story of a couple who walked into a room, one of whom was a doctor. Everyone looked at the man and thought he was a doctor. That woman is a doctor.
Another time, I was introduced to a protest organizer. I saw a child standing with his father. I thought the father was the organizer, but embarrassingly, the kid was the brainchild of the protest he invited his classmates to.
Our double standards for men and women, children and adults, and all kinds of problems can be fatal if we act irrationally without looking at our own biases.
Pelosi is not just another woman
During Pelosi’s 45-year career, she has fought alongside many powerful men.
Most of the time, she’s a victor not because she’s a woman, but because she’s an experienced fighter. Her fearlessness is unparalleled and inspiring. Just look at the way she confronted former President Trump.
Fearlessness is her hallmark. The last thing she wants to do is show her backing down because she’s scared.
right to be angry
If Pelosi only visits Taiwan and does not visit other Asian countries, it will obviously be a slap in the face and a direct challenge to China. But Pelosi’s itinerary includes Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
Because of China’s anger at Pelosi, other Asian countries have received little attention from the speaker’s visit, even though they are also U.S. allies. Now only Taiwan is in the spotlight. Many stories in the media have been positive about the island’s resilience and fight for democracy. There has been far less positive coverage of China in the US media recently.
Some say Xi’s disruptive response to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was a tactic to deflect the real problem at home, namely China’s sluggish economy after repeated coronavirus lockdowns. Whatever Xi Jinping’s real motives, China cannot pretend that Taiwan doesn’t exist just because it hates its existence.
Don’t get yourself into trouble
The humiliation can be self-inflicted if one is not careful.
China is doing well financially and economically, and President Xi Jinping deserves praise. The Chinese people can be proud and grateful for Xi Jinping. As the leader of the Communist Party, he can run China as he wishes.
China is testing its strength and influence by telling Pelosi not to set foot on Taiwan.
But Pelosi did it regardless. However, Xi does not understand that he cannot tell Americans what to do. The more you ask Americans to do what you want, the more they will do the opposite. Not that Americans are rebellious, they never like being told what to do. The emphasis on individual liberty is characteristic of Americans.
The U.S. president has far less power than the Chinese president. Biden has no control over Pelosi, and despite being president, he did advise Pelosi not to travel. But he couldn’t control what Pelosi said or did. This would violate the individual’s freedom of speech and movement.
Just as President Joe Biden demanded that Americans get vaccinated against Covid-19, not everyone listened. On the contrary, those anti-vaccine people fought desperately against the vaccine, and some even sued the government.
So when Xi Jinping gave an ultimatum that Pelosi should not visit Taiwan, he just locked himself in a corner with little room to be a winner. That leaves Pelosi with no choice but to visit Taiwan. There is a Chinese proverb, “A tiger is hard to ride”.
This means that once you’re on it, it’s hard to get out of the car, and it’s impossible to stop halfway through.
face problem
This brings me to the next point. Chinese and Asian cultures place too much emphasis on “face”. This can be our downfall, especially when we have to make critical decisions. This is one of the worst aspects of Asian culture. If you don’t worry about humiliation and what other people think, you can achieve great things.
Every time you fail or make a mistake, it’s no big deal. Don’t let the face element ruin you. Tell your friends and loved ones if you need help. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. Seeking understanding and advice is a reasonable measure of gaining wisdom and getting the job done.
Shame is an embarrassment for the Chinese elderly and their families. I hope the younger generation doesn’t feel burdened by this. Never be afraid to criticize. If you rely solely on compliments and shy away from unfavorable comments, you will never thrive. You will never be a great leader because the people around you will never tell you the truth and guide you to innovate, surpass and change the lives of others.
Turn your mistakes into advantages
To keep others from realizing Mr. Xi’s miscalculation, the Chinese military has conducted a series of exercises along Taiwan’s maritime border with China, including firing missiles, aimed at warning Taiwan.
Most Chinese experts have predicted a typical Chinese response. In addition to issuing military threats, what avenues can China explore?
Is there a way for China to turn their miscalculation into an advantage, not just an aggressor? Is there any way for Xi Jinping to actively reverse the situation without feeling threatened and slighted?
not now. Because China is so keen to retaliate and save face, it cannot think strategically in the long-term, and may even escalate into war. This is a lose-lose not only for China and Taiwan, but for the whole world.
Assunta can reach assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
