I don't post all that often, but this is a topic I'm intersted in and have been doing some research on:
FWIW, China's government and its foreign policy is incredibley pragmatic. The number one concern of the Chinese government is to ensure FDI and the uber-growth of its economy. By doing so, it can get people rich and ensure that they are otherwise engaged and not interested in overthrowing the totalitarian "Communist" party. Its biggest goal is to ensure the constant flow of energy resources. In order to do this it needs to have open and safe SLOC. In order to do this it needs a strong navy to defend its merchant vessels.
This article gives no real credible reason for China to embark on a massive military expansion meant to kick sand in the face of its number one export partner. It would seem that while China would LOVE to have the 7th fleet (and those pesky EP-3's) out of its general vicinity, it would make more sense for the Chinese to pay lip service to America's imperialist tendencies while secretly embracing the stabilizing force that the US Navy provides in flashpoints like the Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Straits of Malacca.
China's foreign policy (at least publicly), is all about ensuring economic growth through the procurment of natural resources. Why else would they send mine workers (but not troops) to Afghanistan, or moneys (not humanitarian workers) to the Sudan? They want their people to get rich and content. Kicking America out of East Asia would be a triumph for some crack pots in their military, but the chances of Japan and Korea, or Southeast Asia for that matter, capitulating seems highly unlikely. As a rule, most people begrudgingly support American military hegemony.
FWIW, China's government and its foreign policy is incredibley pragmatic. The number one concern of the Chinese government is to ensure FDI and the uber-growth of its economy. By doing so, it can get people rich and ensure that they are otherwise engaged and not interested in overthrowing the totalitarian "Communist" party. Its biggest goal is to ensure the constant flow of energy resources. In order to do this it needs to have open and safe SLOC. In order to do this it needs a strong navy to defend its merchant vessels.
This article gives no real credible reason for China to embark on a massive military expansion meant to kick sand in the face of its number one export partner. It would seem that while China would LOVE to have the 7th fleet (and those pesky EP-3's) out of its general vicinity, it would make more sense for the Chinese to pay lip service to America's imperialist tendencies while secretly embracing the stabilizing force that the US Navy provides in flashpoints like the Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Straits of Malacca.
China's foreign policy (at least publicly), is all about ensuring economic growth through the procurment of natural resources. Why else would they send mine workers (but not troops) to Afghanistan, or moneys (not humanitarian workers) to the Sudan? They want their people to get rich and content. Kicking America out of East Asia would be a triumph for some crack pots in their military, but the chances of Japan and Korea, or Southeast Asia for that matter, capitulating seems highly unlikely. As a rule, most people begrudgingly support American military hegemony.