America’s message: time to pick sides in the South China Sea
After years of delicately balancing relations with two superpowers, a close encounter between two warships leaves China’s smaller neighbours facing a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea
In such a scenario, China’s neighbours, from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore, may be cajoled into taking sides after years of delicately balancing their relationships with both superpowers.
Sino-US watchers say immediate pressure could come in the form of the US expecting a firmer stance from these countries against China’s disputed claims over wide swathes of the South China Sea – the way its traditional Western allies such as France, Britain and Australia have done.
That would further ratchet up tensions already threatening to boil over as a result of US and British manoeuvres in the waters.
CNN this week reported that the Pentagon is planning for the Pacific Fleet to carry out a series of exercises in November in a “global show of force” – a move likely to further increase the temperature.