My general feeling so far this year is to keep a low profile. Just pace things so I am not overdoing it. Last year I did a lot of painting and activities mainly because when things are pretty bad being active gets my mind off things. This year is worse in a different way but it isn’t a surprise like losing old friends. 

So far I am actually enjoying all of the various games in play. The Chinese warships off the coast of Australia is highly amusing considering the Australian warships in Chinese waters the past few years. The concept of the mirror reflection in play. It’s like how do you like it?

I am sure soon there will be Chinese warships off the coast of the US, a kind of game where the gloves come off and everyone expresses their frustrations openly. Of course the South China Sea is disputed but it is obviously off the coast of China so it’s in their territorial waters no matter who actually owns it.

If they are off the coast of Australia and the US even in international waters it is still provocative and that is the main point. Freedom of navigation as the US says all the while being provocative. Quite a few countries in the South China Sea claim ownership and the US has used that point of weakness to stir the debate and make some drama.

That though is not good sportsmanship, let the countries in those regions work it out and even if China is not being fair about it, don’t try your hardest to create a flashpoint. The US would love a war off the coast of China, only to try and weaken them, though China would most likely attack the US directly as a way of saying thank you but no thank you.

In the meantime the Chinese are returning the favour and being more assertive to show that two can play that game. We are going to see a lot more of this. If there is a flashpoint it might be the Chinese who choose it rather than the US. Anyway anything can happen at any time and Trump is shooting his mouth like a machine gun, generally hitting his foot.