us-southchinasea-asean-analysis-idUSKBN17T0A5

Good article and thanks for sharing. Constructing islands and emplacing runways and armaments should be considered at face value as aggression. Vital shipping lanes there and we will have to remain vigilant and cognizant of their actions in the Region. Add NK as their surrogate for keeping things stirred up and we arrive at a valid concern. If NK were to launch missile attack on Japan things get ugly, and especially if China lets it happen and does not respond. Military is one option but only for immediate response to attacks and when all other options have failed. Trade and economics have not really worked, but any overt attack on NK will likely escalate quickly, so it's a serious challenge for leadership. It's not as simple as dropping bombs, due to the Seoul scenario. If NK were to seize Seoul quickly, our options become limited very fast. If we fully alienate China the situation becomes bad, in short fashion. Thin ice for lack of a better term.

PO1 Tony Holland thanks for the informative read/share of the most interesting!