mhaze, thanks for the history lesson, don't disagree with it. To simply justify today's reality by reference to that of the past is meaningless. We cannot change the past, but we can influence the future. To simply give up and say "Well, there is not much we can do about the present situation so just accept it!" That is not my line, I believe, regardless of the odds we need to do our up most to bring peace and equality to the world.
No one is saying the US is totally bad, totally wrong, but to simply accept all, and fall in behind is not my way of thinking. Call it idealism if you want, but there can be a better world tomorrow if all of goodwill work to achieve that end.

Paul,

I struggle to find any logic in your posts.

Here we have a major power attempting to claim territorial rights over an area that is clearly within the economic zones of other countries, based purely on their military might, whereas the US, who has nothing to gain, is taking action to demonstrate to the world that China's claims are invalid. This is also a common action taken to deflate unreasonable attempts to control waterways.

Yet we have the left whingers howling that the US is being provocative, while ignoring the provocative action by China in building Military bases in the disputed area and shooting at the fishermen of other nations.

Shadow Minister,
How exactly are China's claims invalid?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_Islands

You say the US has nothing to gain. (How selfless of them - Yeah right)
Obviously you haven't clued on to how America works yet.
It doesn't lift any nation on the planet up (except Israel) despite all its talk about bringing democracy and human rights.
Name one.
It keep its position in the world by undermining anyone else that rises up which is exactly what it is trying to do here.

Hi Shadow,

"I struggle to find any logic in your posts" I can't help it if you are illogical, you will just have to struggle on the best you can.

One of the great myths of modern times is the US claim that it is acting as 'The Worlds Policeman' that might have some justification if the policeman was not also making the laws as well.

The U.S. spends more on militarism than the next 8 largest militaries combined. It's not just a great military power, it has a near monopoly on military power. It is not for any idealistic motives about bring freedom and democracy to the world, it is about feeding that military-industrial complex, and it is well fed, about $640US billion p/a.

Shadow, read this opinion piece by Jonathan Turley, the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, on the subject of the US military-industrial complex then go on about China. Not that i am out to defend the actions of the Chinese, I don't.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/01/big-money-behind-war-military-industrial-complex-20141473026736533.html

Armchair Critic,

With all due respect I have offered several reasons why China's claim to the Spratlys is invalid, so I will give you the opportunity to explain why they have a claim, given:

China had no claim prior to the 1940s,
The islands are hundreds of miles from any recognized Chinese territory yet well within the economic zones of 5 neighboring countries
The maritime treaty to which China is a signatory, does not recognize sub surface and occasionally exposed island as legitimate territory.

Paul,

I see English is not your strong point, but your logic is completely lacking. Your statement in your last post that you don't support the Chinese actions is the first glimmer in 13 pages of this thread that you don't support China's annexation by force of neighbor's territory, yet still go banging away at the US whose only crime was to stand up for the little guys against a bully.

Shadow me olde sparing partner. I am simply keeping on topic 'Why do we have to keep snivelling to the US'. If the top was how to make 'Hot Dogs' I wouldn't be giving you a recipe for 'Chow Mein'. I see English comprehension is not your strong point.

I suspect as usual you have no answer to my logical arguments about the US, so therefore you have to deflect the discussion onto an entirely different subject "China up to no good".

Your assertion that the only crime of the US is to stand up for the little guy against the bully, is nonsense, the US is the bully. It goes around bulling one nation after another from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and all those in between.

Please explain why the USA has to spend $640US billion a year on militarism, more than the combined total of the next 8 largest spenders. China is second on about $200US billion. Most nations, including Australia, keep their war expenditure below about 1.5% of GDP, China is a little low at 1.2%. The US is more than 3% of GDP. Only excessively out done by the warmongers like Israel 7%, Saudi Arabia 10% ( A US war tax on them to protect US oil in the Middle East),