And now it begins

Well, actually, it began some time ago but why deprive me of a dramatic heading?  I am referring to a story in the WSJ which is but the latest in a gathering storm cloud of territorial disputes between China and its neighbours: 

The Philippine government said its newest warship is locked in a standoff with two Chinese surveillance vessels in a fresh dispute over fishing rights in the resource-rich South China Sea, potentially escalating an already-tense security environment in the contested region.

China's claim over the entire South China sea is longstanding  and certain to cause more difficulties.  Apart from fishing there are big prospects for oil and gas, to say nothing of its strategic importance:

The two navies engaged each other after the Philippine vessel—a former Coast Guard cutter provided by the U.S. Navy—attempted to arrest the crew of several Chinese fishing boats who were anchored at Scarborough Shoal, off the Philippines' northwest coast but which is also claimed by China. The Philippine government said Chinese surveillance vessels intervened to prevent any arrests, leading to the standoff, and that Filipino sailors who inspected the Chinese vessels on Tuesday found illegally collected corals and live sharks in one of the fishing boats.

China is locked in a series of overlapping territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei, who claim either all or part of the South China Sea as their sovereign territory. The dispute has flared in recent months as the region's potential energy reserves begin to draw growing attention.

Over the past year, Vietnam and the Philippines have accused Chinese navy craft of harassing oil-exploration vessels operating in their United Nations-defined maritime economic zones. Beijing has denied that, but has warned Vietnam and the Philippines from prospecting in the area without its permission.

This is precisely the sort of situation which will test American diplomacy and will demand from the State Department both a long-term strategic aim combined with the ability to deal with short-term disputes like this one involving the Philippines.   They do have some advantages because already the smaller nations on the Pacific rim are beginning to combine with each other to resist Chinese ambitions:

The Philippines is also working on developing a closer relationship with Vietnam.

Previously there was relatively little contact between the two countries, but now there is a growing military-to-military relationship that might soon result in the two countries holding formal exercises, or at least joint search-and-rescue training, diplomats say.

In addition, the Philippines has proposed holding soccer matches between Filipino and Vietnamese troops on some of the contested atolls in the South China Sea. Philippine Admiral Alexander Pama Tuesday told reporters the Philippines has suggested sending some sailors and troops to Vietnamese-occupied islands, while Vietnamese troops could visit Philippine-held islands. Adm. Pama said it could be called the "fun games," and stressed there would be no firearms training involved.

America should encourage such moves whilst trying their best not to arouse Chinese fears of encirclement.  The Americans have already acted quite properly in one way by insisting on a point of principle:

The U.S., too, has angered China in stating that the South China Sea, which carries about half the world's trade, remains free for navigation.

These and other high-risk disputes will almost certainly recur on a regular basis over the next few decades.  Let's all hope that cool minds are applied rather than hot, foolish heads!

 

Comments

[Jimmy]

Last year the Chinese commented that the US were spending too much on their military and they have to reduce this due to the recession.
I had to laugh.