Thursday, July 28, 2016

U.S. Diplomacy Is Failing On The South China Sea

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel (R) passes near the Chinese oil rig, Haiyang Shi You 981 (L) in the South China Sea June 13, 2014. REUTERS/Nguyen Minh/File Photo

Reuters: U.S. diplomatic strategy on South China Sea appears to founder

In the lead-up to an international court ruling on China's claims in the South China Sea this month, United States officials talked about rallying a coalition to impose "terrible" costs to Beijing's international reputation if flouted the court's decision.

But just two weeks after the July 12 announcement by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague - which at least on paper, appeared to be a humiliating defeat for China - the U.S. strategy appears to be unraveling and the court's ruling is in danger of becoming irrelevant.

Earlier this year, U.S. officials spoke repeatedly of the need for countries in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere, including the European Union, to make it clear that the decision of the court should be binding.

Read more ....

WNU Editor:
With only 6 months left in his term .... President Obama does not want to rock the boat. This mess is going to be given to the next President.

2 comments:

Dave Goldstein said...

What will happen is close to Tom Clancy's book Submarine.

RRH said...

How is it diplomatic to push a puppet to appeal to a "western" court for a pre-ordained result?

There's no diplomacy. Just a constant reinforcement of a modern day Monroe Doctrine, imperial fiat dressed up as "freedom of navigation" (does anyone remember the Polar Sea?-- I'll bet Jay does), well seasoned with PNAC.

China is not ready to "let go" of her history of humilation at the hands of "western powers" and Japan. Truth be told, as alien as it may be to a culture that has trouble (honestly) remembering 100 days ago-- let alone 100 years -- China is looking to right historical wrongs and speak truth to the "end of history lie". What "we" think about it is of little concern to her.