Britain once again shows it is at US' beck and call

Despite some of them having conflicting territorial claims, countries in the region have been working hard to ensure peace and stability are maintained in the South China Sea, through which a third of global maritime trade passes, and to this effect they recently reached agreement on a framework for a code of conduct in the waters on the basis of consultation and consensus.

Which has made the announcement by British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson on Tuesday that HMS Sutherland, an antisubmarine frigate, will sail from Australia through the South China Sea next month to assert "freedom of navigation" rights perplexing for some.

But it is not difficult to understand why Britain should feel the need to forcefully insist on a right that is not being infringed upon, or why it should feel the need to jeopardize the goodwill and commendable momentum that has been attained in neighborly relations, since it is merely behaving as has become its habit, and is once again dancing to Washington's tune.