Beijing’s bid to dominate one of the world’s most important waterways, the South China Sea, is again the focus as U.S. and Asian leaders gather here for the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s top security summit. Last year’s meeting occurred as China was drilling for oil in Vietnamese waters and shooting water cannons at ships that tried to get in its way. This year China is building military bases on 2,000 acres of artificial land it has dredged atop reefs and rocks claimed by its neighbors.
But one big thing has changed. China’s cumulative behavior has led to a shift in American strategic thinking. Beijing’s gradual process of “salami slicing” its way to maritime control may have gone too far, resulting in a decisive hardening of opinion among U.S. officials, policy experts, business leaders and voters. This rethink could shape global security for decades to come.
Start with President Barack Obama, who is preparing to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a state visit in September, following his own trip to Beijing last year, which included the signing of a celebrated (if toothless) environmental pact. Expect Mr. Xi’s visit to focus on areas of cooperation, but even at the presidential level the message is subtly cooling.
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