I am sure that U.S. engagement is welcomed by the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. I am surprised that there has not been a coordinated effort by these countries to find a way to mutually confront Chinese incursions. Perhaps it is a tempest in a tea pot. The South China Sea may not prove to be the hoped for source of wealth. It probably all comes down to oil. Open hostilities would be devastating to trade and I would imagine the Chinese have as much if not more to lose than anyone else. Is it really the responsibility of the U.S. to police this region? Perhaps we should be encouraging a conference to work out competing claims.
I am going to present this issue to my Model UN students; this would be a great topic for a simulation.
edited by kberg on 5/15/2015
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