US must do more than just paying lip service to the world order

The United States is sending confusing signals over the South China Sea issue and has heightened tensions in the region by sending its warships and planes close to China's islands.

Washington avoided holding military drills or taking other actions that could have further inflamed tensions with Beijing when US guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen entered the waters close to China's islands in the South China Sea, said a Reuters report on Friday, citing anonymous US officials. This exposure is in sharp contrast to the hawkish remarks and actions of high-ranking US officials, including Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

While on an eight-day tour of Asia, Carter boarded a US aircraft carrier in the South China Sea on Thursday and alleged that China has "perpetrated" most of the "activities" in the South China Sea in the past year and expressed concerns over "Chinese behavior".