Wow im not aware of the absolutely disgusting and dirty wanwan tactics!
Though, I am more referring to China being strong enough to physically intervene into Indonesia. While I do not approve of America's foreign policies in general, but there is definitely a certain threshold that absolutely justifies FAFO for hostile states. And to also establish a credible tic for tac response (MAD deterrence is ineffective in peacetime or smaller-scale conflicts), America's deterrence by guaranteed punishment had given them a very strong reputation (or used to) of credible red lines (such as against ill treatment of American citizens). The mass genocide and mass rape targeting Chinese people in 1998 absolutely justifies military intervention in Indonesia, and then getting back Natuna islands and Lanfang would be a bonus. Unfortunately, China was weak at the time not to mention another big hurdle would be the non-intervention policy.
If foreign countries keep commenting or stick their nose into our domestic issues like they are doing now, there is no reason to continue keeping this stupid policy. Or in fact, a better idea (that still protects and stay consistent to our principles) would be a "non-interventionist policy on the basis of retaliation": AKA we are non-interventionist unless a country decides to either interfere in our domestic matters in any way or commits massacre/ racially targeting our ethnic people (includes all Chinese ethnicities). Then there will be retaliatory action and non-interventionist policy would no longer apply until relations improve/ normalised by them correcting and restituting their mistakes. I believe this should be the right way moving forward.
Absolutely, we are being too passive for no good reason. Not to mention their lack of resources and oil right now. They might even self-collapse if we played smart since the beginning of the war.
There have been (and still are) good reasons to not antagonize ASEAN by entering into direct conflict with multiple members (who remain in good standing inside the org) simultaneously. Particularly in the periods that Indonesia saw huge unrest against ethnic Chinese.
In the late 90's Asia was experiencing the financial crisis, capital flow to China remaining stable was a priority, as was preventing any domestic and regional backlash against this relationship at the formal level. Setting aside that China at that time had no credible way to (or frankly reason to) attack Indonesia (just as if HK Chinese chimped out and massacred a few thousand Indonesians working in HK, Indonesia could ofc be upset, angry and lodge complaints but realistically would not have a realistic casus belli against China). The era of 'defenders of the faith' a la 1800s European colonialism are over (the fact Russia failed to notice this has been to its immense detriment).
China did what was logical to do, apply pressure, provide shelter, and lodge formal and completely understandable complaints (it has also done similar things after more recent Vietnamese anti-chinese riots etc.)
Launching an SMO over this would be both insanely stupid (unify ASEAN against you, Americans laughing all the way to the bank, actually endanger every ethnic Chinese in ASEAN immediately due to association). See how ethnic Russians are treated in EU and UKR today, they did not gain dignity and respect, the opposite. It would essentially be akin to a disastrous Ukraine war for China, a blessing for the USA and it's regional allies! Worse still, in the 90's this would be a genuinely civilization threatening blunder; recall that at this time the USA has absolute supremacy in every military domain over China and China is still seen with suspicion (and not yet in the WTO!) and in a relatively weak position in ASEAN militarily (at this time even regional navies are strong enough to bully China!) This would definintely scuttle WTO membership, lead to humiliating military defeats, and probably result in the end of the PRC.
You should consider second order effects. Also 'reclaim Lanfang?' Real world is not a paradox interactive game.
