Subject: Re: China policy
That looks like normal belligerent China that doesn't recognize anyone else's territorial claims. Let them alienate all of their neighbors on the issue. Escalation will be serious when they do something like force the sailors of the run aground boat on the Spratleys. This looks like normal Chinese hijinks, but they do mean it.

If the Chinese had their way, they would claim whatever land their pirates claimed and whoever paid tribute in the past. Chinese are taught that the nine dash line is real and that they own all of that.

There is also the vying for the top on the racial cultural hierarchy in Asia, where it's the the Japanese vs the Chinese as to who is on top. The Philippines sits back and wonders why they aren't an Asian Tiger in the economic engine. LKY said it best - that they are too soft and forgiving on their politicians, etc.

But in the meantime, let them alienate all their neighbors, except Laos. Indonesia sank a few of their fishing boats. I was a sad day when we pulled out of the TPP, another Trump nearsighted failure. Trump was pretty bad.