http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/08/us-usa-japan-carter-idUSKBN0MZ02V20150408Quote
Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter kicked off his first Asian tour on Wednesday with a stern warning against the militarization of territorial rows in a region where China is at odds with several nations in the East and South China Seas.
Carter's visit to Japan coincides with growing U.S. concern over China's land reclamation in the Spratly archipelago of the disputed South China Sea, where Beijing has rival claims with several countries including the Philippines and Vietnam.
Tokyo and Beijing have a separate row over Japanese-controlled islets in the East China Sea.
U.S. and Philippine troops will take part in annual military exercises this month near the Spratlys in the largest such drills since the allies resumed joint activities in 2000..
Asked whether the beefed up U.S.-Philippine exercises were a response to China's moves, Carter said Washington and Manila had shared interests in the region, including a desire to ensure there were no changes in the status quo by force or that territorial rows were militarized.
http://news.yahoo.com/philippines-seeks-help-u-south-china-sea-dispute-110245707.htmlQuote
MANILA (Reuters) China's rapid reclamation around seven reefs in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea has alarmed claimants, including the Philippines and Vietnam, and drawn growing criticism from U.S. government officials and the military.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said Washington is concerned China is using its "sheer size and muscle" to push around smaller nations in the disputed sea, drawing a swift rebuke from Beijing.
"We are, at this point, seeking additional support from the United States in terms of being able to take a stronger position in defending our position, which is to uphold the rule of law," Albert del Rosario, Manila's foreign minister, told journalists.
So next week the US. and the Philippines will take part in their biggest war games to date in that area. I wonder how far China is willing to go to hold dominance over very lucrative shipping lanes that many countries claim a portion of. $5-7 Trillion is no small matter and may be a spark in a already volatile area. One thing this conflict can do is solidify our relations with Japan and Vietnam as their need for a strong "Big Brother" appear more important as China continues to flex it's muscles.
Is it coincidence that China has been flexing it's collective muscles at the same time that Russia is forcibly pushing it's weight around? Is there such thing as coincidence in global politics?
I don't believe in a coincidental statement in marriage any more..it pays to catalog, index and store the glibbest of tossed off statements. Let me tell you.This post was edited by Valhalls_Sun on Apr 15 2015 07:53am