South China Sea and China (2011-2017)

[Dayuhan]

One does not see geo strategy and geopolitics in isolation or as a case by case issue. It is observe in the overall context. Ms Hillary Clinton pronouncement about the South Sea being of strategic importance to the US sums up the issue beyond any quibbling.

Just repeating what's been said for years. None of this is new.

I wonder if one is to take the pronouncements in the US Congress lightly as if it was not material.

Not to be taken lightly, exactly.... but understand that they are playing primarily to a domestic audience, not plotting grand strategy. Again, nothing very new there.

It shows that the US strong defence of its allies and others in the South China Seas has sent the message to China, so much so, that instead of bulldozing, it is trying to slow down and show 'maturity'.

Again, this cycle has run before, many times.

China is a very careful country. It will not back down, but will use the prevailing parameters to calm the situation without 'losing face', and then will seek opportunities when it is in a position to seize the initiative.

As will everybody else in the picture. Yes, the Chinese asre careful. Is this a bad thing?

This enemy - Vietnam - continues to be Communist - the raison d’être for the US intervention in Vietnam. Therefore, any rapprochement is not taken to be within the ambit of a day's work done.

I would be surprised if the US would not be the last country to forget Vietnam in a jiffy. Without going into details, suffice it so say that Vietnam does not evoke pleasant memories in the US.

Other enemies of the US have been soundly defeated.

That I presume could be the difference.

Nominally Communist, yes. So is China. So what? The Cold War is over. "Communism" per se is not "the enemy", nor is the US reasonably required to avoid relations with nominally communist countries, or vice versa. Relations are based on the perceived interests of today, and both the US and Vietnam have found it expedient to get along. Again, this is not new, it's been going on a while.

Neither is it necessary to see China as an enemy that needs to be contained and deterred... in fact that approach is the fastest way to turn that situation into a reality.

Carl, you have been a lone voice insisting that the US should not cut Taiwan loose.

Has anyone here proposed that the US should "cut Taiwan loose"?