We can talk about the why's and wherefore's till the cows come home.
There is no doubt that this is going to end in tears.
But hopefully not blood!
An interesting article on the front page of the Australian today suggests China may flex its new found economic strength - militarily.
Chinese top brass bags US influence in region
BY: BRENDAN NICHOLSON, DEFENCE EDITOR From: The Australian October 31, 2012 12:00AM
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A CHINESE general has used a high-level Australian military conference to deliver a pointed warning over the US pivot towards Asia, saying that "interference" is complicating progress to a new security order in the region.
Lieutenant General Ren Haiquan also took a swipe at a key US and Australian ally Japan when he questioned the current actions of a one-time "fascist" nation that once bombed Darwin. He suggested territorial disputes could lead to open war.
"Therefore we should resolutely oppose all behaviours that violate international treaties and intend to sabotage security co-operation," General Ren told the meeting of senior military officers from 16 nations in Melbourne. "Pull of one hair may lead to the move of the whole body," he said.
General Ren's comments came hours after the release of the Gillard government's Asia white paper, which warned that competition between the US and an increasingly powerful China, as they pursued their interests in the region, heightened the danger of conflict through "miscalculation and accident".
As US and Japanese officers bristled, General Ren told the conference dinner on Monday night that Asia was in a transition towards a new type of security*order and external countries' involvement complicated that process.
A Japanese officer at the conference, which was organised by Australian army chief David Morrison, was angered by the "fascism" reference and the talk of the bombing of Darwin. He said his Chinese counterpart seemed to have forgotten the past 70 years of peace between the one-time enemies.
During the last presidential campaign debate, Barack Obama cited the realignment of US forces towards the Asia-Pacific. A 250-strong contingent of US marines left Australia weeks ago after several months' training in the Top End. Next year the marine force is expected to grow to more than 1000.
Without naming the nations he was referring to, but in clear reference to the US, General Ren declared: "Some countries pursue strategies such as 'rebalance to the Asia-Pacific' and 'looking East' and are increasing their strategic investment. Several countries do not let go the Cold War mentality.
"They are consolidating military alliance system in Asia-Pacific and strengthening their military presence and military deterrence capability."
General Ren, deputy president of the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Science, said dormant territorial disputes between regional countries could turn "active and acute and external powers come to intervene".
The South China Sea, enclosed by the west coast of mainland Southeast Asia, Borneo and The Philippines' archipelago is rich in oil and gas and fish stocks and is traversed by more than a third of global shipping. Its waters and seabed are subject to claims by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and The Philippines.
General Ren told the conference: "As there are so many serious challenges, Asian countries should join hands, work together and play constructive roles in promoting regional security and prosperity."
General Ren stressed that China was developing its defence capabilities only to protect its national interests because it had suffered so much in the past from foreign invasions.