Clear provocations

China seems to be ramping up its arrogance and provocations in the South China Sea and surrounding waters. Last Saturday, the USS Chung-Hoon, a destroyer, and Canada’s HSMC Montreal, a frigate, were sailing across the Taiwan Strait when a Chinese warship intentionally sailed in front of the destroyer. A video released by the US Navy clearly shows the Chinese vessel sailing in front of the destroyer. The destroyer maintained its course and ignored the radio warnings by the Chinese warship. The US Navy has criticized the Chinese vessel for what it called an unsafe interaction in the strait. The Taiwan Strait is a narrow waterway between mainland China and Taiwan and is often an area of heightened tension whenever China sails warships through it. As far as I know, it still is governed by freedom of navigation.

Not surprisingly, China’s military twisted the incident and accused the US of “deliberately provoking risk” even if it was their warship that cut in front of the US destroyer. The Chinese vessel came as close as 150 yards. Ships don’t stop on a dime so that distance is considered dangerous. Last May, a Chinese fighter jet did an “unnecessarily aggressive” maneuver near a US military plane in international airspace. The fighter was so close it caused momentary turbulence on the US aircraft. Of course, China spins it in the opposite direction.

It is clear who the provocateur is in both incidents. China claims almost all of the South China Sea including the airspace above it, something no country recognizes. I don’t know what the Chinese are thinking by conducting these clearly provocative acts. Are they trying to lure the US into a shooting war? It’s akin to poking a tiger at the zoo. The tiger may ignore you for a while until it gets fed up and attacks. Is that the reaction China wants?

Then there is Taiwan. For more than a year, China has conducted military exercises in and around Taiwan. A deliberate attempt at provocation. China has always stated Taiwan is a renegade province and will soon be reverted to the mainland, by force if necessary. But Taiwan is no pushover militarily. It has weapons from the West and has always trained for a Chinese invasion. It also has a strong ally. If it is attacked, the US is obliged to come to its aid. So, what is China thinking?

They may underestimate Taiwan just as Russia and Putin have underestimated Ukraine and the countries helping it. The US has already sounded warnings of “somebody getting hurt” if these provocative and dangerous acts continue. A shooting war is not in the best interest of China. I don’t understand why these so-called strongmen think they can do anything they want.

All I can say is “be careful what they wish for.”