No point fighting over a sea intended for all to sail

In defending free navigation in international waters in the South China Sea, I am not being pro-American. In condemning China for building artificial islands just to claim territorial and sovereignty rights, I am not being anti-China.

Recently, China upped the ante by finally landing a military plane on Fiery Cross Reef as we suspected it would (“China rejects US query over military flight to disputed island”; April 20).

Any right-thinking person would surmise that those islands in the Spratly archipelago were built to accommodate military objectives.

For years, China never laid claim to these areas, at least not publicly or forcefully; even if it did, no concrete actions were taken. But it has now matched words with actions, turning reefs into anything resembling a military garrison.

To smaller, weaker countries, China appears every bit a big bully. What has changed? The sea has not, but China’s global economic status and power have, to the extent that it is now the world’s second-largest economy.

This has given China the will and the right to challenge and debunk countries that stand in the way of its territorial expansion as it sees fit. A prosperous China has become a dangerous China.

It knows that Southeast Asian countries are no match for it. And Taiwan would not go to war against its big brother. So the only threats come from Japan and the United States.

This is where China would consider seriously and carefully whether engaging the US is worth the losses if push comes to shove. All parties will be closely watching the South China Sea theatre of contention.

A war would be detrimental to every country in the region. Let us hope that common sense prevails in the end. There is no point in fighting over an open sea intended for everyone to sail.