China is not a rogue state and its policy makes perfect sense, given its legitimate geopolitical aims. Beijing’s approach to the South China Sea is quite comparable to the United States’ approach to the Caribbean during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when it sought to establish strategic dominance over its adjacent sea. Domination of the Caribbean gave the United States effective control over the Western Hemisphere and, thus, allowed it to pivotally affect the balance of power in the Eastern Hemisphere throughout the 20th century. Chinese domination of the South China Sea in the 21st century will do no less for China.
Seriously? The two things are the same?
America dominated the Caribbean in peacetime by virtue of our geography and China can do the same in the South China Sea for the same reason.
But the comparison ends there. American dominance did not claim that the Caribbean Sea was American territorial waters. Stronger European naval powers did not challenge our dominance because our dominance did not threaten their interests.
China, in contrast, claims the nearly the entire South China Sea as one of their freaking cities! Countries who rely on free navigation in what international law says is international water object to China's expansive claims. And countries bordering the sea with their own territorial and economic zone claims nullified by China's unilateral action object to China's claims and actions.
I remain in awe of how some people can make any excuse for our foes with such apparent firm belief. And somehow toss in the notion that Trump is at fault for what up until that point in the article had been an argument based on geography and interests naturally leading China to dominate and claim the region.
