Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for the Global Times on China’s activities in the South China Sea and the US response:

The United States is considering disinviting China from the 2016 RIMPAC military exercise, the world’s largest with twenty-two nations participating. Why? Mainly to show Washington’s displeasure over China’s activities in the South China Sea. But the stance may make the bilateral relationship more complex. 

A number of satellite photos showing China’s PLA building ports and airstrips on expanded reefs and shoals has sparked a US debate about how to respond. Disinviting China from the next RIMPAC in 2016 is being suggested by some, including Senator John McCain, chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. 

Read the full article here.

Related Experts: Robert A. Manning