Yes!
So?
Rhrosty.

With the author claiming:

"Undermining the United States' influence in the region, China intends to play the shepherd in one of the world's busiest trade routes."

and

"the United States is short on political recourse"

Do goings on in the South China Seas (SCS) have any relationship with America's presumed world responsibilities?

In a similar vein Chinese influence over the oil rich Gulf of Mexico is negligable. Hence is lack of Chinese influence in the Gulf of Mexico a problem?

Also if United States' influence is undermined in the South China Sea should the Australian Navy be conscripted to support America's weakening grip?

Pete

but the local neighborhood thug doesn't get his own way every time:

nine Chinese fishermen were caught big-time poaching by taking hundreds of endangered giant sea turtles from Hasa-Hasa Shoal so they were jailed and slapped with huge fines.

Read the whole story from yesterday's Philippine Star:

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/11/27/1396319/china-wants-unconditional-release-boat-9-poachers

While it does illustrate China's attitude to other countries rights,
lets not get too excited, the resource estimate is only 3 or 4 months
of the world's consumption.
The reserves may turn out to be significantly less.