A Geography Lesson

The picture shows the location of the Spratly Islands, which both China and the Philippines claim. The islands are a group of coral atolls that China has been busily filling in with sand and crushed coral to build military bases. The U.S. drove a destroyer the other day past the disputed islands following the accepted international limit of 12 miles and China is howling, claiming a 200-mile territorial limit. 

Look carefully at the map. By China's definition (and assuming its sovereignty which I do not) the straits between the Philippines and Vietnam/Cambodia would be pretty much shut down within the Dragon's grasp. What's next - Mare Island in San Francisco Bay because it's close to Chinatown? Freedom of the seas is crucial to the U.S. and other nations and we were right to throw down the gauntlet. Japan is responding to China the same way. Stand by for future developments in this area. It could get interesting very quickly.