China maintains military outposts in the Spratlys. And the Chinese fear that increased action by the U.S. and its Southeast Asian allies bodes trouble, especially in light of the military buildup in Singapore, where the Japanese obtained recent permission to base their ships and planes. We are constantly scouting this front, sizing up the strengths and weaknesses of our potential enemy. For months now, the Chinese fighters have aggressively harassed regular spy plane runs up and down the coast. When Japan and Taiwan send out recon fliers these days, they're accompanied by fighter escorts.
Sea lanes are no less contested.
The spy plane collision followed a similarly dangerous situation in late March, when a Chinese frigate came close to firing at the Bowditch , a U.S. underwater surveillance craft. Chinese and American leaders are set to hold talks about the situation on Wednesday. Since the release of the crew, Bush has adopted a forceful tone, blaming the Chinese and renewing interest in selling the Aegis defense system to the Taiwanese military. Additionally, the administration may station an aircraft carrier off China's southern coast, where it could send fighter pilots to protect U.S. spy planes. First, Bush needs to hammer out a clear set of rules for engagement, similar to the ones that governed U.S. and Soviet actions during the Cold War.