A Tense Asia Greets US Reemergence with Relief

Washington abandons US-first doctrine to assert itself in the South China Sea

In quick succession, the US has delivered two blows to China’s interests both globally and in Asia in particular: denunciation of China’s claims in the South China Sea, and removal of Hong Kong’s special status from the point of view of trade and travel.

The latter has received the most attention, coming in the wake of China’s imposition of its sweeping …