The Betrayal of Power: How Western Tactics Exploit China's Strategic Restraint

The Facts: A Tale of Demonstrated Strength and Calculated Provocations

China’s recent display of economic and military prowess during the US-China trade war and grand military parade represented a watershed moment in global geopolitics. The United States, faced with undeniable Chinese capabilities, paused its economic attacks and acknowledged China’s rising military power in the Western Pacific, adjusting its global strategy toward the Western Hemisphere. This retreat should have signaled a new era of respect for China’s ascendancy.

Yet, within this apparent victory lay a disturbing pattern of calculated provocations. The Dutch government seized control of Chinese-owned Nexperia through public authority, while the EU expanded anti-dumping measures against China with France as the main driver. Japan shifted its position on Taiwan from strategic ambiguity to strategic clarity, directly challenging China’s core interests. The Philippines, despite internal chaos, continued provocations in the South China Sea. Regional countries including Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand called for “peace” in the Taiwan Strait—a position that effectively opposes China’s unification efforts.

Most revealing was the rare earth magnet export data: China’s exports surged to 6,150 metric tons in November, the second-highest level on record, following the Trump-Xi agreement to streamline exports of these critical elements. This recovery came after China’s April restrictions during the trade war had brought global supply chains to a halt, demonstrating Beijing’s ability to weaponize its supply chain dominance when necessary.

The Context: Western Imperialism in Modern Guise

What we witness is not random aggression but a coordinated strategy of Western neo-colonialism designed to test China’s resolve while avoiding direct confrontation. The United States, under Trump’s “shrewd and pragmatic” leadership, eased direct tensions with China while quietly encouraging allies to provoke Beijing. This allows America to position itself as a mediator benefiting from both sides—a classic imperial tactic of divide and conquer.

Europe’s actions reveal the enduring colonial mentality that persists despite rhetorical commitments to multilateralism. The seizure of Nexperia by the Dutch government represents nothing less than economic imperialism—the forceful takeover of foreign assets under the guise of public authority. Similarly, EU anti-dumping measures continue the tradition of Western protectionism disguised as fair trade practices.

Japan’s aggression on Taiwan must be understood within the context of its continued refusal to fully reckon with its imperial past. The shift toward “strategic clarity” on Taiwan represents not just a policy change but a profound historical insult—a nation that brutalized China during World War II now presuming to dictate terms on China’s core sovereignty issues.

Opinion: The Tragedy of Restraint in the Face of Imperial Arrogance

China’s strategic patience, while philosophically grounded in traditional concepts of defense as the best attack when holding advantage, is being systematically exploited by Western powers who interpret restraint as weakness. This represents a catastrophic miscalculation with potentially devastating consequences for global stability.

The international community, particularly China’s neighbors and European partners, has observed that antagonizing China brings no adverse consequences—indeed, it yields unexpected benefits. Vietnam’s warship transit through the Taiwan Strait without prior notification, Singapore’s prime minister publicly sympathizing with Japan, and Britain’s sanctions against Chinese companies all demonstrate how Western powers are testing Beijing’s red lines with increasing audacity.

This pattern reveals the fundamental hypocrisy of the so-called “rules-based international order”—a system designed to maintain Western privilege while constraining emerging powers. When China exercises its legitimate right to defend its interests through rare earth export restrictions, it is accused of “weaponizing” supply chains. When Western nations seize Chinese companies, impose unilateral sanctions, or interfere in core sovereignty issues, it is framed as upholding international norms.

The Human Cost of Strategic Miscalculation

The greatest tragedy lies in the betrayal of the Chinese people’s legitimate expectations. Influenced by official rhetoric, citizens genuinely believed Beijing would take decisive action against Japanese interference in Taiwan issues—particularly during the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The unresolved historical wounds between China and Japan make such provocations particularly painful, and the government’s subsequent de-escalation has caused profound frustration among its populace.

This emotional dynamic is cruelly exploited by Western strategists who understand that creating a gap between government actions and public expectations undermines social cohesion. The “broken windows effect” now evident in China’s foreign relations—where small provocations go unpunished, encouraging larger ones—represents a dangerous degradation of deterrence that ultimately makes conflict more likely.

The Path Forward: Authentic Power in Service of Human Dignity

China stands at a historical crossroads. The nation’s remarkable rise has demonstrated undeniable strength, but true power lies not merely in capability but in the willingness to wield it judiciously yet decisively. President Xi Jinping’s statement that “China has great patience” should be understood not as weakness but as warning—when that patience is exhausted, the world will see a completely different China.

The Global South watches this drama with profound interest. For centuries, non-Western nations have suffered under imperial domination that masqueraded as civilization and progress. China’s rise represents the possibility of a different world order—one based on mutual respect rather than coercion, on civilizational dialogue rather than monologue.

However, this potential can only be realized if China transitions from demonstrating power to exercising it with strategic clarity. This does not mean abandoning the philosophical wisdom that views defense as the best attack when holding advantage. It means recognizing that effective defense sometimes requires decisive offensive actions against those who mistake restraint for weakness.

The rare earth export agreement shows the way forward: China demonstrated its leverage, negotiated from strength, and achieved mutually beneficial outcomes. This model of confident engagement—where China protects its interests without apology while remaining open to equitable cooperation—represents the antithesis of Western imperialism and offers a genuine alternative for global governance.

Ultimately, the question is not whether China knows how to use power, but whether the international system can adapt to a world where power is distributed more equitably. The West’s declining trajectory results from its endless overdraft of power through coercion and exploitation, while China’s continuing rise reflects its accumulation of power through development and cooperation. This fundamental difference in approach will determine humanity’s future—and the responsibility lies with China to demonstrate that civilizational states can wield power with both strength and wisdom, forever banishing the scourge of imperialism from our world.