Xi Jinping – End to Deng Xiaoping’s policy of ‘swallowing bitter fruit’

Many western stereotype writers and politicians have been harping about an assertive China as if China was pushing everyone around in its foreign policies. They have yet to see what an assertive China is like. The truth, China has been adopting a policy of restraint and humility guided by Deng Xiaoping, to work conscientiously in the peaceful development of China and to avoid dispute, in another words, to work hard, even to swallow bitter pills.
 
The western powers especially the Americans and even Japanese thought that this was a sign of weakness and had been pushing China on every fabricated issue they could think of. China’s response was appeasement and walked away from the raw challenge of military power like the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, the flying of nuclear armed bombers and recon planes to threaten China and the increasing provocations of violating the territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea. Even a pretentious regional power like India thought it was strong enough to brazenly send soldiers into Chinese territories to stop the Chinese from road building works at the Sino Bhutan border.
 
The Philippines under the Aquino govt in collusion with the Americans and Japanese thought they could bully China by setting up a kangaroo court at The Hague to rule against China and to declare Chinese islands as rocks in the ocean, thus cutting away Chinese territorial rights in the South China Sea.
 
Enough is enough. China would not tolerate such violations of its sovereignty and national interests anymore. During the 90 Anniversary of the PLA, Xi Jinping has made an important policy speech to move away from Deng Xiaoping’s policy of avoidance of trouble by not picking up the gauntlet, even when humiliated. Henceforth, ‘We will never allow any people, organization or political party to split any part of Chinese territory out of the country at any time, in any form. No one should expect us to swallow the bitter fruit that is harmful to our sovereignty, security or development interests.’
 
This is a major shift in Chinese policy and overdue. Countries still complaining about an assertive China would be mistaken and would be rudely awaken to see the real assertive China to come. From this speech, Xi Jinping has firmly give notice to the world, to the USA, Europe and little countries like Japan, England and Australia that China would mean business and would not tolerate their nonsense and unreasonable demands and provocations. The constant provocations by the Americans in the South China Sea would be firmly dealt with and with appropriate military response if needed to. China would show the Americans the middle finger on the North Korean issue. It is not China’s problem to deal with the North Korean’s nuclear programme and China would not go along or be pressured by the Americans to undermine its relations with the North Koreans. More firm response would be taken against Thaad deployment in the Korean Peninsula. The Japanese should be more careful with their words and actions on the island dispute in the East China Sea. And India better move its soldiers out of Chinese territory before they be kicked out by force.
 
The China today would take the bull by the horns and face any challenges squarely and militarily if necessary. Little USAs better take note and shut up or would have eggs in their faces. ‘China wants peace, but will not be bullied’, said President Xi Jinping. China would no longer walk away from trouble, provocations and challenges.
 
The world is going to see the real assertive China when its interests are threatened or challenged. This time China would say to the Americans, all options are on the table, including military ones. Not only the Americans can say this, China too would be saying this to the Americans. China would not just be watching idly by should the Americans attack North Korea or any of its allies.