Trump pushes the limits of Xi's patience

December 14, 2016 7:00 pm

Can Beijing keep its cool as its military grows antsy?

TOKYO -- China's Global Times newspaper has taken to bitterly denouncing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in recent editorials.

The paper, run by the Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily, on Monday said Trump has a naive notion that the longstanding "one China" policy can be used as a commercial "bargaining chip." The paper added that the president-elect needs to "learn to handle foreign affairs modestly" and warned that Beijing "may not prioritize peaceful reunification [with Taiwan] over a military takeover."

The following day, the Global Times said that the Chinese government needs to consider a variety of stern measures to punish advocates of Taiwan's independence, and that a military takeover of the island is one option.

The Global Times is under the sway of hard-liners and is occasionally permitted to express opinions separate from official government positions. The editorials reflect sentiment inside the People's Liberation Army, according to sources close to the paper, who cited senior editorial staffers' ties to the PLA.
In any case, China sees Taiwan as a "core interest" and maintains it will not hesitate to use force to settle the matter.

Restrained response

"I don't know why we have to be bound by a 'one China' policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade," Trump told Fox News recently.

This came as a shock to Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially in light of Trump's telephone chat with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen -- a break with U.S.-China protocol. Portraying himself as a diplomatic outsider, the president-elect has quickly shaken international norms Beijing spent 40 years establishing.

On the surface, at least, China's reaction has been reserved. A foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing is paying close attention to press reports on the new U.S. leader's remarks and is strongly concerned about them, without referring to Trump by name.

Beijing has also kept a measured tone in reiterating the one-China policy.

http://asia.nikkei.com/Features/China-up-close/Trump-pushes-the-limits-of-Xi-s-patience