The Chinese view the Australian submarine deal as proof that America’s strategic objective in Asia is containment. In a way, they are right. But what, exactly, does that mean?
America is not threatened by the expansion of the Chinese economy, or by the increasing wealth of the Chinese people. After all, we encouraged it, and benefit from it in a myriad of ways. What we object to is China’s attempts to impose its will on other countries, either through its economic clout or the growing power of its military. This would be an issue even if China were impeccably democratic; the creeping authoritarianism of its regime, and the fear it justifiably inspires, only makes things worse.
And so, we are bound to have a complex relationship with the Chinese. We will work with them whenever we can, but we will protect ourselves and our friends from their bullying when we must. That inevitably includes beefing up our military capabilities in Southeast Asia and the surrounding seas.