South China Sea and China (2011-2017)

[Azor]

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/29/us-ch...cial-says.html

Yawn. The Chinese have had plenty of time and space to resolve the following issues without any external pressure:

15 years to renounce using military force against Taiwan
10-15 years to disarm North Korea, removing nuclear weapons from the peninsula
10-15 years to resolve territorial disputes with Japan and the Philippines diplomatically and without the use of coercion or force

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-us...-idUSKBN15J061

Mattis is quite correct. However, the forces in theater should be prepared for war as China will probably strike first, hard and fast. Establishing Allied A2/AD zones in the First and Second Island Chains while under fire will be important, and the USMC can play an important role in establishing land-based components of those zones.

Meanwhile, the Guardian's cup is half-full

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...?CMP=edit_2221

It's plain wrong.

The United States has explicitly stated for decades that the Diaoyou/Senkakus are under Japan's administration (despite the trilateral dispute), and therefore are covered by American defense commitments to Japan.