In light of the recently introduced new security laws which enable the Japanese armed forces to expand their military operation overseas, there is now a new agreement reached between the Japanese and the Australian armies to undertake joint military exercises. The Japan armed forces already took part in the military exercise held between the USA and Australia. This was done to bolster the joint military actions between these three countries to counter the Chinese growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. It has indeed been a problematic issue for Australia for a long time balancing its self-proclaimed role as the Deputy Sheriff for the USA in the Asia-Pacific region on the one hand and pursuing its economic self-interests in the region, on the other. However, a country where people like to have a flutter now and then, the collective wisdom of the Australian political establishment is to put the bet only one way, the USA.

Meanwhile, an agreement between the USA and the Philippines allows US armed forces to access the disputed areas in the South China Sea. This is a major departure from the USA policy of neutrality regarding the disputed territories so long the freedom of navigation is not obstructed. China in cooperation with other regional countries kept the South China Sea as one of the safest sea lanes in the world. In fact, it is the USA that has made it very dangerous sea lane by deploying its massive heavily armed naval vessels including aircraft carriers. The US does not seem to understand that freedom of navigation does not imply freedom to do whatever you like - a point China emphasises.

This ramping-up clearly signals a more aggressive intention of the USA. This agreement clearly indicates what are the USA's real intentions - if necessary, to directly intervene in those islands. But that is not going to happen as China has made it absolutely clear that it will not be trapped in the US strategy. The US can not obstruct China's activities to defend its sovereign rights, but by escalating armed posturing, the US military is trying to increase the costs to China to defend itself and to assure its (US) allies and partners in the region of its support. Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, warned the USA that making the Asia-Pacific region a second Middle-East would not do any good to the USA. China believes it has the capabilities to stand up to the USA and its allies to defend its sovereignty if situation so demands. China has had experience coping with confronting the USA in the past in Korea and Vietnam.