I read early this morning that the Philippine government is considering buying submarines to use in defending its claims in the South China Sea. At the same time I have read that the U.S. DoD is announcing that U.S. forces will not recognize a Chinese claimed exclusion zone in the disputed areas of the South China Sea. Obama is meeting this week with China's President Xi Jinping and scheduled for discussion is the South China Sea and sanctions on North Korea.
For my two cents, it is time for the U.S. to engage in some off-shore balancing in East/Southeast Asia. A tribunal in the Hague will be ruling soon on the legality of Chinese claims--a ruling China says it will ignore. That ruling will undermine Chinese claims. Vietnam, the Philippihes, and Malaysia have interests in common to see Chinese expansion in the South China Sea stopped. The U.S. needs to capitalize on this common desire and can do so by providing training, and providing weapon systems at reasonable prices to opponents of Chinese claims in the South China Sea. The potential exists to strengthen ties with Vietnam, create more market acceptance of U.S. goods in Malaysia, and offer reassurance to our old Asian ally the Philippines.
Obama should avoid direct antagonization of China regarding the South China Sea. Reasonable statements about freedom of navigation, maintenance of Sea Lanes of Commerce, etc. should be offered. But Obama should not press the issue too strenuously if it is desirable to have Chinese support for tougher sanctions on North Korea after recent missile tests North Korea conducted. Of course, the question there is do tight sanctions on North Korea serve any really meaningful purpose that aligns with the real interests of the citizens of the U.S.?
I also read that the DPRK government is telling North Koreans to prepare for another famine. I wonder if some genius in D.C. thinks that a starving population in North Korea will actually lead to real change in the political structures of that feudal nightmare of a country? Oh well, my thoughts are wondering all over the place today.
For my two cents, it is time for the U.S. to engage in some off-shore balancing in East/Southeast Asia. A tribunal in the Hague will be ruling soon on the legality of Chinese claims--a ruling China says it will ignore. That ruling will undermine Chinese claims. Vietnam, the Philippihes, and Malaysia have interests in common to see Chinese expansion in the South China Sea stopped. The U.S. needs to capitalize on this common desire and can do so by providing training, and providing weapon systems at reasonable prices to opponents of Chinese claims in the South China Sea. The potential exists to strengthen ties with Vietnam, create more market acceptance of U.S. goods in Malaysia, and offer reassurance to our old Asian ally the Philippines.
Obama should avoid direct antagonization of China regarding the South China Sea. Reasonable statements about freedom of navigation, maintenance of Sea Lanes of Commerce, etc. should be offered. But Obama should not press the issue too strenuously if it is desirable to have Chinese support for tougher sanctions on North Korea after recent missile tests North Korea conducted. Of course, the question there is do tight sanctions on North Korea serve any really meaningful purpose that aligns with the real interests of the citizens of the U.S.?
I also read that the DPRK government is telling North Koreans to prepare for another famine. I wonder if some genius in D.C. thinks that a starving population in North Korea will actually lead to real change in the political structures of that feudal nightmare of a country? Oh well, my thoughts are wondering all over the place today.
