The ‘maritime game of chicken’ in the South China Sea could easily escalate out of control
David Ignatius
BusinessInsider.com
Oct. 23, 2015
The United States appears to be moving toward a military test of China’s claims of sovereignty in disputed areas of the South China Sea, and officials here seem pleased that President Obama is prepared to put more muscle into his famous “pivot” to Asia.
The United States has been briefing Asian allies about its new readiness to assert “freedom of navigation” by sending ships within the 12-mile limits that China has placed around its newly reclaimed “islands.”
Adm. John Richardson, the new chief of naval operations, said in Tokyo a week ago that U.S. warships will be “just steaming in international waters,” and that this shouldn’t be seen by Beijing as “provocative.”
Since ducking a confrontation with China over the disputed islands since 2012, the administration has decided to take a tougher stance.
“The United States will continue to sail, fly and operate anywhere that international law allows,” Obama said at a news conference with President Xi Jinping during the Chinese leader’s visit to Washington last month. Xi insisted that China won’t militarize the islands.
What will China do as U.S. warships sail past the maritime limits Beijing claims? Its foreign ministry warned that “there is no way for us to condone infringement of China’s territorial sea.” But officials here expect that the Chinese will do no more than shadow U.S. vessels, and perhaps attempt to block their passage, rather than open fire.
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