The Pentagon has relabelled its battle plan for fighting China in the Western Pacific.  The battle plan formerly known as AirSea Battle is from now on to be known as “Joint Concept for Access and Maneuver in the Global Commons.”  This is very good news because the use of the term Global Commons in the title goes to the heart of what is at stake for the United States and the rest of the free world. China is intent upon starting a war with Japan and seizing a large patch of ocean in Southeast Asia.  What most people don’t realise about the Chinese nine-dash-claim of territoriality in the South China Sea is that it is not so much about gaining area and resources but excluding others.  Commercial operators might not be affected and don’t care about filling in forms and asking permission to cross the sea or sky.  The Chinese claim, if enforced, would stop any other country’s warships and military aircraft from crossing the South...(Read Full Article)