Have independent commanders on the chinese side potentially doing something that might be dangerous and might lead to an escalation. the united states certainly won t allow that to happen. so let s have this new dance, let s establish this as the norm. what s at stake for this relationship, for both sides to get this right? at this point, to avoid conflict and find a way where both sides can back off without firing off their weapons? how much is at stake here? i think a lot is at stake. the united states has always tried to establish a relationship with the chinese in a meaningful, fulsome way, using diplomatic, infrastructural, military, and financial, powers to interact in a deep, meaningful way so you can become a partner in the region. we have never really done that. we can pick and choose our areas to engage and i think we have done that. this is simply another one of those. how this eventually turns out i ....