China is a rising superpower that has achieved remarkable economic, social and military development in the past decades. However, China also faces many challenges and conflicts, both internally and externally, that threaten its stability and security. China has many rivals and adversaries, who oppose its policies, interests and values, and seek to contain or undermine its influence and power.
But who are the top 10 enemies of China in 2023? How do they perceive and interact with China? What are the main sources and issues of their hostility and confrontation? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more, by presenting the top 10 enemies of China in 2023. We will use the term “enemy” to refer to any country or entity that has a negative or hostile relationship with China, regardless of the degree or nature of their animosity.
1. United States
Relationship status: Rivalry and competition
Highlights: The United States is the leading superpower and the main competitor of China in the world. The two countries have a complex and multifaceted relationship, involving cooperation and conflict on various issues, such as trade, technology, human rights, security, climate change and more. The U.S. views China as a strategic threat and a revisionist power, that challenges the U.S.-led international order and undermines its interests and allies. The U.S. adopts a policy of containment and deterrence against China, by imposing sanctions, tariffs, bans and restrictions on Chinese entities, strengthening its military presence and alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, supporting Taiwan, Hong Kong and other sensitive issues for China, and promoting democracy and human rights around the world.
2. India
Relationship status: Border dispute and rivalry
Highlights: India is the second-most populous country and the seventh-largest economy in the world. It is also a nuclear-armed state and a regional power in South Asia. India and China have a long history of border disputes, dating back to the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The two countries share a 3,488-kilometer (2,167-mile) long border, which is largely undefined and contested. The two countries have frequent clashes and standoffs along the border, especially in the Ladakh region of Kashmir and the Doklam plateau of Bhutan. India also views China as a strategic rival and a security threat, that encircles India with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), supports Pakistan (India’s arch-enemy), expands its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, opposes India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), and interferes in India’s internal affairs.
3. Japan
Relationship status: Historical animosity and territorial dispute
Highlights: Japan is an island nation and an economic powerhouse in East Asia. It is also a close ally of the U.S. and a key player in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan and China have a bitter history of war and aggression, dating back to the late 19th century. The two countries have never fully reconciled or resolved their historical grievances, especially regarding Japan’s invasion and occupation of China during World War II. The two countries also have a territorial dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China. The two countries have frequent confrontations and provocations around the islands, which could escalate into a military conflict. Japan also views China as a regional rival and a potential aggressor, that threatens Japan’s sovereignty, security and interests.
4. Taiwan
Relationship status: Separatism and confrontation
Highlights: Taiwan is an island off the coast of mainland China, that has been governed by the Republic of China (ROC) since 1949, when the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) fled there after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). China considers Taiwan as a renegade province and an inseparable part of its territory, that must be reunified by force if necessary. China opposes any form of Taiwan’s independence or international recognition, and imposes diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and its allies. Taiwan, on the other hand, seeks to maintain its de facto independence and democracy, and resists China’s coercion and intimidation. Taiwan also receives support from the U.S. and other countries, who provide it with arms sales, security assistance and unofficial relations.
5. Australia
Relationship status: Trade war and diplomatic spat
Highlights: Australia is a continent country and a middle power in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also a staunch ally of the U.S. and a member of the Quad, a strategic grouping of four democracies that aim to counter China’s influence in the region. Australia and China have a significant trade relationship, with China being Australia’s largest trading partner. However, the two countries have a deteriorating political relationship, due to their differences on various issues, such as human rights, cybersecurity, foreign interference and COVID-19. China has imposed sanctions, tariffs and bans on various Australian products, such as coal, wine, barley and beef, in retaliation for Australia’s criticism and actions against China. Australia has also accused China of espionage, influence operations and economic coercion.
6. Vietnam
Relationship status: Territorial dispute and rivalry
Highlights: Vietnam is a socialist country and a rising power in Southeast Asia. It is also a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc that seeks to promote cooperation and integration among its 10 members. Vietnam and China have a complicated and turbulent relationship, marked by wars, invasions and conflicts throughout history. The two countries have a territorial dispute over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, a group of islands and reefs in the South China Sea that are rich in natural resources and strategic value. The two countries have clashed militarily over the islands several times, most notably in 1974 and 1988. The two countries also have competing interests and influence in the region, especially regarding the Mekong River and the BRI.
7. Canada
Relationship status: Hostage diplomacy and legal battle
Highlights: Canada is a North American country and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is also a close ally of the U.S. and a partner of the Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance of five English-speaking countries that share information and cooperate on security issues. Canada and China have a strained and tense relationship, due to their involvement in the case of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei, a Chinese telecom giant that is accused of violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. Meng was arrested in Vancouver in 2018 at the request of the U.S., which seeks her extradition to face trial in New York. China has denounced Meng’s arrest as a political move and has demanded her release. China has also detained two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on charges of espionage and endangering national security, in what is widely seen as a tit-for-tat retaliation for Meng’s arrest. The two Canadians have been held in harsh conditions and denied consular access for more than two years.
8. Philippines
Relationship status: Territorial dispute and arbitration
Highlights: The Philippines is an archipelagic country and a former colony of the U.S. in Southeast Asia. It is also a member of ASEAN and a treaty ally of the U.S., which provides it with military assistance and protection. The Philippines and China have a territorial dispute over the Scarborough Shoal, a group of rocks and reefs in the South China Sea that are claimed by both countries. The dispute escalated in 2012, when China seized control of the shoal after a standoff with Philippine vessels. The Philippines then filed a case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), a tribunal that settles disputes between states under international law. In 2016, the PCA ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s claims to most of the South China Sea and affirming the Philippines’ rights to its exclusive economic zone. However, China rejected and ignored the ruling, calling it null and void. The Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte, has adopted a conciliatory approach towards China, seeking to improve ties and cooperation, while downplaying the ruling and the dispute.
9. Tibet
Relationship status: Occupation and resistance
Highlights: Tibet is a region in the Himalayas that has a distinct culture, religion and history. It was once an independent kingdom that later became a protectorate of China. In 1950, China invaded and annexed Tibet, claiming it as part of its territory. In 1959, Tibetans rose up against Chinese rule, but were brutally suppressed by Chinese forces. The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual and temporal leader, fled to India, where he established a government-in-exile. Since then, Tibetans have been subjected to repression, discrimination and assimilation by China, which seeks to erase their identity and autonomy. Tibetans have resisted China’s occupation through various means, such as protests, self-immolations, cultural preservation and international advocacy.
10. Uyghurs
Relationship status: Persecution and genocide
Highlights: The Uyghurs are a Turkic Muslim ethnic group that live mainly in Xinjiang, an autonomous region in northwest China. They have their own language, culture and history, which are distinct