The message is clear

The USS John C. Stennis, an American aircraft carrier which was recently in the country, and accompanying vessels were denied a port call in Hong Kong by China. No reason was given by Beijing, but this obviously has something to do with the ongoing tension between the two superpowers regarding the issues hounding the West Philippine Sea.

Just recently, US defense secretary Ashton Carter visited the country during the annual Balikatan exercises. He even visited the USS John C. Stennis which was anchored in Philippine waters to check on the troops and observe operations. This did not sit well with Beijing.

While in the country, Carter affirmed its support to the Philippines and other allies "as they faced coercion and intimidation," a clear reference to China's claim on almost the entire ocean and its building of obvious military structures on artificially made islands. In fact, the US has left behind a contingent of two hundred seventy-five soldiers and ten A-10 Thunderbolts.

Joint patrols between the US and the Philippines have begun on Scarborough Shoal. China's response is to build an outpost on the said shoal where it could assert its territorial claims. The outpost will probably support military equipment and weapons, even a runway. Scarborough or Panatag Shoal is well within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Beijing's message is clear. They own the oceans in the region and everything on it, regardless of what anyone says. The impending decision by the UN arbitration court has accelerated China's construction and heated up its rhetoric.

The rejection of the port call by the USS John C. Stennis in Hong Kong, which is a first since 2014, is a sign of increasing tensions between the two powerhouse countries. With joint patrols occurring at a regular pace, along with freedom of navigation and overflights to be made not only by the US but by other countries as well, the region is most definitely turning into a flash point.

Which is why it is important to have friends and allies. The importance of ASEAN is important. China is obviously trying to sway some member countries to their cause. China is quick to blame the US and other countries for interfering in what should be a problem between them and claimant nations, but it is oblivious to the influence it is asserting to some member nations.

ASEAN must be united in its stand against Chinese forced expansionism and militarization in the region.

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