The role of the United States as a balancer is also welcomed to the extent that she can engage China not only economically but also constrain, if not contain, possible power-projecting ambitions, uncertain intentions and lack of military transparency—all symptoms of increasing aggressiveness. The conventional wisdom is that while China’s rapidly growing military acquisition and capabilities may not pose a threat now, it may be in the future, given that Beijing has not given clear assurances of its long term objectives in the region. The current status quo can also be easily be undermined by political upheavals in China such as the creation of a Bushido class within the People’s Liberation Army.

Chinese territorial claims over the Spratlys, even going so far as to build a structure on the Mischief Reef within the 200-mile exclusive zone of the Philippines and recent activities have made the United States and Asean increasingly suspicious of Chinese intentions and strategic plans.

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