China News  
TAIWAN NEWS
As Beijing rages over Taiwan, mood on China's streets muted
By Beiyi SEOW
Beijing (AFP) Aug 8, 2022

China's thunderous response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit brought cross-Strait tensions to their highest level in years and sparked an outpouring of nationalist zeal online, but the mood on the streets in mainland China is a little more circumspect.

Enraged by Pelosi's trip, Beijing last week launched some of its largest-ever military drills encircling the island while suspending cooperation with the United States on issues including climate change and defence.

China's tight grip over the internet, with a massive system of censorship that scrubs posts casting the Communist Party's policies in a negative light, has limited public debate over just how far Beijing should go in its showdown over Taiwan.

While it is difficult to gauge Chinese public opinion, experts say the public broadly supports reunification and would not accept moves suggesting acceptance of Taiwan's independence.

But beyond the calls from more extreme citizens online -- with some even calling for war -- Beijingers told AFP they still pinned their hopes on a peaceful process.

"I'm not too worried because I know it won't happen... whoever turns to force first (over Pelosi's visit) will be in the wrong," said Zhao, a 29-year-old Beijing resident who only gave his surname.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to one day take it, by force if necessary, with the self-ruled island's eventual reunification and absorption into the mainland an article of faith for many Chinese.

"Many Chinese hope for reunification with Taiwan. This is an idea that's been instilled since childhood and is seen as politically correct," Zhao added.

"But there has been less in-depth discussion, because the Internet does not allow for diverse views and offline talks can easily land in conflict."

For China's President Xi Jinping, the timing of Pelosi's visit could not have been worse, David Sacks, research fellow at think-tank Council on Foreign Relations, told AFP.

Beijing's leadership is keen to project stability and strength at home ahead of the Communist Party's 20th congress -- at which Xi is expected to be anointed for an unprecedented third term.

"Xi likely felt as though he had to act, for fear of looking weak or like somebody who's not in control of the most important relationship for China," Sacks said.

- 'They don't need people's support' -

But while China's military manoeuvres have stirred pride among citizens, residents told AFP this does not always relate to support for those at the top.

"People are proud, but it's mostly over China's military might," Zhao said. "They seldom mention the leaders."

Another Beijing resident who gave her name as Guo said she didn't "think this situation will change attitudes towards our top leadership" among the public.

"Taking a step back, they don't need people's support either, they're not picked by votes," the 27-year-old said.

Coupled with wariness towards foreign powers, trade bans on Taiwan and military drills "will be welcomed" by the Chinese public, Jocelyn Chey, former Australian diplomat and visiting professor at the University of Sydney, told AFP.

Pelosi's visit also came in the wake of significant domestic hurdles for the ruling party -- unpopular lockdowns and debate surrounding Xi's zero-Covid policy, the closure of the international borders for travel, and woes in the property market, Chey notes.

But where criticism of the leadership is taking place, said Sacks, it is more often from those who believe China has not gone far enough in its spat over Taiwan.

This means officials will continue to calibrate their response and intensify it accordingly, he added.

"Unless this gets really out of control, even though there has been some pushback to Xi's response, I don't think that it will in any way threaten his position at the upcoming party congress," Sacks said.

For some however, the military escalation -- blamed on Pelosi's visit -- has opened new and concerning possibilities.

"Before this, some people around me felt that peaceful reunification could be achieved, as it was a matter between us and Taiwan," said a Guangzhou resident surnamed Luo.

"But with the US' involvement, some are starting to see it as a battle with America."


Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan crisis: what we've learned so far
Beijing (AFP) Aug 7, 2022
China's live-fire drills around Taiwan - which saw vessels encircle the democratically ruled island - have offered an unprecedented insight into how Beijing may conduct a military campaign against its neighbour. Beijing has also imposed economic sanctions and increased efforts to isolate Taiwan on the international stage, in a move that experts say will permanently alter the status quo on the Taiwan Strait. AFP looks at what we learned from China's largest-ever military exercise around Taiwan, ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TAIWAN NEWS
Reusable experimental spacecraft put into orbit

China launches six new satellites

China's Tianzhou-3 cargo craft re-enters atmosphere under control

Researchers: Chinese rocket stage to hit Earth in uncontrolled descent

TAIWAN NEWS
Markets track US rally, eyes on China's Taiwan drills

ASEAN ministers warn Taiwan tensions could spark 'open conflicts'

Asian, European markets hit by rate fears ahead of inflation data

China's consumer inflation pushes higher

TAIWAN NEWS
TAIWAN NEWS
China ends working with US on multiple issues; Sanctions Pelosi

Biden signs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO bids

Biden tries to heal Kentucky flood victims -- and country

US ratifies Finland, Sweden accession to NATO

TAIWAN NEWS
Framatome to deliver neutron instrumentation system solution at South Carolina nuclear plant

Russia planning to connect nuclear plant to Crimea: Ukrainian operator

'Volatile' situation at Russian-held Ukrainian nuclear plant: IAEA

UTA engineering researcher leads effort to help develop fast modular nuclear reactor

TAIWAN NEWS
US sanctions crypto 'laundering' service Tornado

Finnish parliament website targeted in cyber attack

AFRL-developed cross-domain access system expands across federal government

Russian disinformation operation paid for pro-Ukraine war posts: Meta

TAIWAN NEWS
Framatome to deliver neutron instrumentation system solution at South Carolina nuclear plant

Russia planning to connect nuclear plant to Crimea: Ukrainian operator

'Volatile' situation at Russian-held Ukrainian nuclear plant: IAEA

UTA engineering researcher leads effort to help develop fast modular nuclear reactor

TAIWAN NEWS
Modern wind turbines can more than compensate for decline in global wind resource

End-of-life plan needed for tens of thousands of wind turbine blades

Engineers develop cybersecurity tools to protect solar, wind power on the grid

1500 sensors for the rotor blades of the future









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.