The recent US-written-and directed farce in East Asia has a dazzlingly clear plot. It does exhibit the "writer-director's" habitual arrogance but belies its lack of confidence.

To consolidate its status in the East Asian region and seek "new partners", the US has to create a "great situation", albeit artificial, and it thinks the farce will come in handy for the job. To create a "great situation", it has to discredit China, which anyway is its favorite pastime.

The US has been distorting China's strategic objectives of modernizing its military such as the defense of its land and sea borders. By stirring up disputes, it creates situations in which it would be called, by itself of course, to act as the "guardian angel".