China's 'War Games' Around Taiwan: A US Playbook?
The New Arab, like many outlets, reports on China's 'war games' and missile firings around Taiwan, painting a picture of escalating tensions. This narrative ignores a crucial element: the US has been conducting similar 'freedom of navigation' operations and military exercises in Beijing's self-declared territorial waters for decades. Just last year, the USS Nimitz carrier strike group sailed
through the disputed South China Sea, part of a long history of US naval presence that routinely tests Chinese claims. Hypocrisy, much? One might wonder if 'aggressive' is merely a synonym for 'challenging US hegemony' when it comes to naval maneuvers in international waters. When the US sends warships through the Taiwan Strait, it's 'bolstering stability.' When China runs drills in its backyard,
it's 'provocative.' The narrative shifts not with the action, but with the actor, making 'international law' a flexible friend to those with the largest navy.