Troublemakers are still trying to cloud waters

Troublemakers always seek to stir up trouble, as can be seen from the words and actions of some countries from outside the region that are trying to foment discord in the South China Sea now that China and its neighbors have successfully calmed the waters.

The latest ill-intentioned outsider trying to throw a wrench in those good works is Francois Rivasseau, the European Union's head of security policy, who told an Australian newspaper last week that European navies could conduct freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea.

"Fifty percent of our trade goes through this area. We are interested in stability," he was quoted as saying.