Chinese people are highly individualistic and not easily united on any issue. Unifying the views of Chinese people on the mainland, Taiwan and overseas is even more difficult. Notably there is one issue, that has put aside all differences among Chinese around the world, bringing them together with one view, on the question of defending the sovereignty of Diaoyu Islands.

Speaking in New York last Wednesday about the recent incident in which Japanese frigates rammed a Chinese fishing boat near Diaoyu Islands and captured the vessel's captain, Premier Wen Jiabao said the Japanese had hurt the feelings of Chinese around the world. Now that the skipper has been released, the whole game has changed; but whatever action the Chinese government decides will have the full backing of all Chinese people.

Taiwan's government under Ma Ying Jeou is more in tune with the mainland on this issue because Ma was part of the Defend Diaoyu Islands movement in the 1970s when he was a young man. Because administratively the Diaoyu Islands are under the jurisdiction of Taiwan, advocates from both sides of the Taiwan Straits have called for the joint defense of this part of Chinese territory. Similar views have also been raised on the joint defense of islands in the South Sea.

This is not a novel idea as Taiwan has garrisoned Taiping Island, which is the largest and centrally located island in the South Sea. In the past, even when there were direct military conflicts between Taiwan and the mainland, mainland warships were permitted to anchor at Taiping Island to obtain water supplies on their way to protect other islands. This island is now guarded by lightly armed Taiwan police instead of soldiers, although they were under threat from Vietnamese navy. Should this island be attacked, the mainland would not fail to become involved.

Now that the Japanese government, apparently with the backing of the Americans, has provoked China and broken its ambiguity on the Diaoyu Islands, China will have no choice but to assert its sovereignty over the East Sea and the South Sea proactively. This will be fully supported by all Chinese. The world will see more Chinese military presence in these waters. There will of course be more trouble but once united, the Chinese people are known for their iron will. Backed by a very clear bottom-line, China will prevail.

The author is a member of the Commission on Strategic Development.

(HK Edition 09/28/2010 page4)