[bobzibub]

What the article didn't mention was that the US has pirated (ahem) "commandeered" Iranian oil tankers as well. This is an ongoing dispute between these two countries. Iran violates US sanctions, but technically they are merely US sanctions which have the legal weight of say Togo's sanctions on the high seas. (Togo doesn't enforce their domestic law on the high seas, nor can they.)

The simplest way to get Iran to stop compandeering tankers is for the US to do the same. They don't want our "peace", it is true. "Peace with Piracy" is just not compelling to the Iranians. Can you blame them?

Likewise, China benefits from trade near her borders but the US and allies want the ability to turn off the spigot when they wish to force China into concessions, as has been noted in US geopolitical articles for decades now.

Note the Australian nuclear submarines deal: They don't really want to protect their trade with China...from China, they want the ability to control trade between China and her allies. These subs would do part of the job, with the bulk of it done by the USN. Enjoy a comedy skit on that subject: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sgspkxfkS4k

[everybodyknows]

> China benefits from trade near her borders but the US and allies want the ability to turn off the spigot when they wish to force China into concessions

The word for this is "blockade", generally recognized as an act of war. When exactly did the US threaten to blockade China? And why is it that those nearby trading partners seem to regard China, not the US as a threat? How could they all have it so wrong?

[bobzibub]

There is concern amongst countries in the area. There are many territorial disagreements. Both that and pressure to host bases etc in exchange for secure access to US markets.

The Biden administration is pursuing a policy of ambiguity with respect to China. A blockade is an act of war, but publically threatening it is also a quick way to lose sway in the court of world opinion. I agree that there is no public threat of a blockade by the adminstration, nor did I claim they did. Similarly, when was the last time the US officially declared war? WWII? Actions are better indicators than words. One cannot "contain" a country like China without assets in place. And they are there. I've read about 400 installations in Asia alone?

China militarily invaded another country in, if I recall, Vietnam in 1971. Most here were not born then. I'm a geezer and I was two. A lot of wars have occurred since then, but we characterize them as an aggressor nation. Their threat to us is not that they will invade their neighbour. It is that their economic force of gravity will pull the entire world into their economic orbit, leaving us as an "also ran".