Beijing outmanoeuvres US in the South China Sea – at least for now

[Drumboy44]

The struggle between China and other claimants for political domination of the South China Sea is over, for now. China has won this round. This is a political setback for the US, which supported the other claimants – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Indeed, what US President Donald Trump said and did not say during his recent Asian trip and statements emanating from recent Asean-hosted summits convinced many observers that China has gained the diplomatic edge over rival claimants and the US.

The “China wins” perception is reflected in many observers’ comments. Ely Ratner, of the US Council on Foreign Relations, says “the South China Sea has fallen victim to a combination of Trump’s narrow focus on North Korea and the administration’s chaotic and snail-paced policymaking process”. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea adds, “Asean countries are willing to move on, failing to make China accountable for the militarisation”.

The US position is that China should fully implement the international arbitration ruling invalidating its claims, adjust them to conform to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and refrain from further “militarising” the features it occupies. The US also demands China respect its “freedom” to undertake intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance probes in China’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, regardless of whether these probes violate China’s laws. The US also wants China to comply with the “rules-based order” it helped to build and benefits from. None of this has happened, or is likely to.

http://m.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2121288/beijing-outmanoeuvres-us-south-china-sea-least-now?amp=1

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

the US Council on Foreign Relations, says “the South China Sea has fallen victim to a combination of Trump’s narrow focus on North Korea and the administration’s chaotic and snail-paced policymaking process”.

I think this is an unfair assessment. What exactly did they expect the US to do? Go in guns blazing? China already has shown they are willing to fight for South China Sea. The US doesn't want to get into any kind of conflict over that area right now.

 

[Obreid]

I also am not happy about China's SCS claims and actions. You do kind of have to pick your fights though.
Match their build up if needed keep talking and be in position to act when they shoot up the next nations oil rig or something similar.
If we do see real lasting help with NK and working with them in SCS but being firm what else is their to do.

China has a lagging economy with more internal debt than US trying to keep their economy going. They also have to feed more people than I can count.

Work with them, let them know they have a seat at the table Always if they don't trample on their neighbors completely.

We played fast ball with Japan leading to WW2 giving preference to the European colonial powers. Did nothing to give them a tangible reason to not become militarily expansionist.

I'm not saying we were to blame for Pearl Harbor that was their choice and they lost and millions died.