>>/45046/
And yet Japan is the third largest economy in the world... Say what you want but you cannot deny that she benefits from this too.

> However, evidently Australia was not willing (or daring) enough to put its interests ahead of those of the US. The province follows the center, again at its own expense 

Well Chinas actions were threatening her as well that is why she did this. She may profit from China but she won't profit from Asia at all if China starts a war there. As I have said, I don't agree with the way they went about this but they did it for a valid reason.

> I can believe this. After all, isn't China also something like the EU's 2nd most important trade partner?

Yes but they are also slightly insane obviously.

 >>/45047/
Taiwan is a sovereign country whatever way you look at it, surely you know very well why they don't recognise Taiwan as being China(they do still see her as a sovereign nation). It's far from a wholly Chinese affair, that makes no sense. Yes I agree it is delicate. Well if Tasmania was the Government, had bled itself white in a world war for the west and then fought a civil war right after that forced them to flee to Tasmania, well then the situation would be quite different.

That lists just proves my point... The most Major war there in recent times is the Irag war and that was just the superpowers of the world ganging up on some third world nowhere. The War on terror is not a war, it's a policing action.

> What alternative did the "pivot to Asia-pacific" give them?

They were doing this before the pivot to Asia and it is what caused the Pivot to Asia in the first place.

> the USG launching a "preemptive war" before its global status becomes undeniably challenged (by any country) has been long in the cards

Yes, that's how the First world war started.


> You are just restating your position. I already countered this so you can re-read my reply if you want

You have not though. You just repeat the same senseless narratives. It is undeniable that what China is going in the South China sea is both illegal and threatening to many nations in the area. And there is no justification for it.