Opinion | Meanwhile, Trouble in the Pacific

The U.S. is putting military assets into the Middle East to deter a larger war, but other parts of the world aren’t receding into calm. The latest sparks in the Pacific demand a real bipartisan effort to pour U.S. hard power west of the international dateline to deter a provocation from China.

Over the weekend in the South China Sea, a Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a Philippine boat that was attempting to resupply military personnel on the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. Beijing regularly harasses Philippine vessels as it tries to exert control over the islands.