In today’s Wall Street Journal there is a warning to China about the intensified buildup in the Spratly Islands from none other than the Secretary of Defense. The article quotes him as saying “...despite China’s claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapons systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion.” That is completely contrary to the rhetoric of China in saying it is just a “self- defense” role to protect its own territorial integrity.
Mr. Mattis is pointing out that China does not own those islands and their claim to them is not accepted to the UN, the US, or to many of the countries making claims to that land. China churns on ignoring all. Of course, someday that will end. The buildup is not going away until several countries challenge China on its claims, and things get a little more tense a long way from home for China and anyone else in the region.
Taiwan is the ultimate prize for this dispute. The Chinese have manage to draw us away from the real claim by making others so grand that they can even be taken seriously. But, behind all that is the claim to Taiwan as part of China, which it has stepped up of late. China forces businesses to say that Taiwan is part of China whether they believe it or not. It’s diplomats force countries into saying Taiwan is part of China and the “consensus” is that. This is complete hogwash, but hogwash repeated often enough becomes fact. They repeat it a lot.
Over the weekend, I heard someone say that the US could tear down those buildings if necessary. I can’t imagine that happening and it seems to be wishful thinking, but it is thinking about a subject long ignored. If we do nothing, will the Chinese stop colonization of the islands? If we tried to tear down those buildings, would they sit by and watch? Obviously Freedom of Navigation patrols are not working. Talking is not working.
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