South China Sea and China (2011-2017)

[carl]

So, we place our red lines on the very borders of our competitors?

Why yes we do, or should. If that competitor is bordered by a peaceful nation which the competitor invades to conquer, I would say yes very definitely that is where the red line goes. I believe that is where we placed a red line in 1991.

Time for others to crack out their own wallets and man their own bastions and to prepare once again to treat powerful neighbors with appropriate respect so as to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Now this is an interesting statement. What is "appropriate respect"? Who determines what it is? I don't believe there is an internationally agreed upon definition of that term. I think it depends mostly upon the disposition of the powerful neighbor. If unlucky enough to be next to Red China, it means something very different than if you are lucky enough to be next to the US. It seems to me that what you are saying is simply that the law of the jungle prevails. I realize that life is often like that but it is not something to aspire to, it results in too much fighting.