They are emblematic of a broader strategicdistrust, which if left to fester, may not provoke full-scale war, but could well lead to localised armed clashes.
It is in China's interests to build confidence with its neighbours, reduce mutual strategicdistrust with America and demonstrate its willingness to abide by global norms.
There is a sense of strategicdistrust between the two powers, as China becomes more assertive in Asia and as the U.S. refocuses its attention on the world's most economically dynamic region.