The United States and China in Power Transition - Strategic Studies ...

the planned war games, many took this as a U.S. compromise.
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But the United States soon had an opportunity to
“get even” with China. In November 2010, tension
in this region flared up again. The two Koreas exchanged
artillery shelling at their disputed area. Some
of North Korea’s artillery shells landed on the South
Korea-controlled Yeonpyeong Island, killing South
Korean soldiers as well as civilians. President Obama
and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak immediately
ordered the two nations’ combat forces to carry
out the second phase of the planned war games. This
time, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and its
battle group steamed into the Yellow Sea. In the midst
of an international condemnation of North Korea and
support for the United States on this crisis, China had
to tune down its rhetoric, although the Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman did voice China’s objection
again to the U.S. warships coming to the Yellow Sea.
China nevertheless swallowed a bitter pill. But the
contention between China and the United States on
U.S. military activities in the Chinese-claimed EEZ did
not stop there. The two would come to fight again as
the United States promised to continue these activities
in the future.
With the absence of mutually (and internationally)
acceptable grounds, the ultimate arbiter over the U.S.
military activities in China’s claimed EEZ will be the
two nations’ national power, especially their military
power. China at this point, and for some time to come,
does not have the capability to carry out its demands.
It can only make repeated protests or harass U.S. operations
in the Chinese-claimed EEZ. However, China
is making steady efforts to improve its fighting capabilities.
China’s Marine Administration now has many
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