The deteriorating situation in the South China Sea (SCS) is in reaction to the increased US activities in the area. Specifically, there are two aspects that could serve as flashpoints in US-China relations. First, the seeming appropriation by the US of the whole of SCS to implement its hegemonistic policy of “Monroe Doctrine” to make the region America’s extended lake in Asia. The doctrine is given loose application of freedom of navigation to include the right to conduct naval military exercise in the whole stretch of SCS as if to complete the “containment” of China. Second, the increased US threat to instigate an independence movement in Taiwan to provoke war with China. Support for this could be treated as renouncing the Joint Communiqué signed in 1972

Kapunan, R. P. (2020, September 5). Deteriorating US-China relations. Manila Standard, p. B1.