“And all for what? So China can claim some worthless chunks of coral in the South China Sea? Doesn’t make any sense.”
It makes complete sense. The 9-dash line will allow the Chicoms to control the trade routes to all of Asia from Eroupe and the Middle East. Much of the shipping to SE and E Asia, especially the raw materials and foodstuffs needed by Japan and ROK, and the resources shipped out of SE Asia go through the South China Sea. China has already told the world that the sea and air routes through the area are under their jurisdiction. Such control, if unchallenged, could leverage our allies in the region.
Those same trade routes are used by every other Southeast Asia and Pacific Rim nation. Do you seriously think they’re just going to let China put a stranglehold on those arteries? China won’t have anything to ship anywhere if its markets dry up, which is exactly what would happen if it started a shooting war.
The Chinese are too greedy to cut their own throats.