I am going to defend him. I think it is a wise strategic move on his part. He knows we have an interest in what happens there and in the Spratleys. He is angling for U.S. equipment. He doesn’t want the U.S. patrol that could leave or have idiotic ROE. He wants his own stuff.
By giving such a broad opening to internationalist Red China, he guarantees that he will not have his “own stuff”.