South China Sea: Be careful what you wish for.

Looks like the South China Sea issue has now been internationalised, with the US' and Chinese military forces eyeballing each other...

Exclusive: China warns U.S. surveillance plane

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/20/politics/south-china-sea-navy-flight/index.html?fb_action_ids=621853204618001&fb_action_types=og.shares

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I wonder if the Philippines and Vietnam -- two of the claimant states, and the two that have most frequently crossed swords with China over the South China Sea -- are now happier with the new development.

Meanwhile, Japan has a dispute with China over their rival claims in the East China Sea. That's another area where China can ratchet up pressure on a US treaty ally.

On the other hand, the last thing China wants is to be perceived as a common military threat to both Northeast and Southeast Asian countries (and to Australasia as well).