My comment:
(1) It is surprising for me to read US is a check and balance "制衡" against China's rise. The past American administrations avoided giving the impression that US was in the way of China's rise, let alone these very words. (American media might say the Bush administration warmed up with India, with an eye of the latter--but NOT America itself--serving as a "counterweight" vis-a-vis, or "hedge" against--China, but US government never said that.)
(2) The VOA report cites:
(a) John Pomfret, U.S. continues effort to counter China's influence in Asia. Washington Post, July 23, 2010.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/22/AR2010072206037.html
("The push comes at the same time that the administration's tone with China has turned tougher * * * In recent speeches and interactions with Chinese authorities, the administration has abandoned an earlier approach of patience and quiet engagement")
* Elizabeth Bumillier and Norimitsu Onishi, US Lifts Ban on Contacts with an Indonesian Force. New York Times, July 23, 2010 (title in the print).
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/world/asia/23military.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=indonesia%20military&st=cse
(The entire report does not mention China at all)
(b) Dan Blumenthal, Contrary to China's recent behavior, Washington is still stronger than Beijing. Foreign Policy, July 21, 2010.
http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/21/contrary_to_china_s_recent_behavior_washington_is_still_stronger_than_beijing
Quote:
"Over the past few months, the Chinese have not-so-softly * * * called the South China Sea a "core interest" (akin to claiming that the sea is China's territorial water)
"The atmosphere is ripe for us to begin creating an informal network of alliances operating more closely together [aiming at China]
* jugular (n; Latin jugulum collarbone, throat): "of or relating to the throat or neck" www.m-w.com
(3) Dan Blumenthal, Clinton's unfinished business. Foreign Policy, July 23, 2010.
http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/23/what_clinton_left_unfinished_in_asia
("And both [Clinton and Gates, secretaries of State and Defense] spoke out strongly about the South China Sea, which China has provocatively claimed to be its territorial waters. Here is Clinton on the matter: 'The United States has a national interest in freedom of navigation, open access to Asia's maritime commons, and respect for international law in the South China Sea.'")
Secretary Clinton made the remark at a regional security forum" at Hanoi, Vietnam today (July 23).
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/07/145095.htm
Matthew Lee, US wades into South China Sea disputes. Associated Press, July 23, 2010,
has highlighted 'national interest' in Clinton's remark, points out the remark never mentions China by name but that "her comments are expected to anger China."
---------------------Separately
Editorial: Signals in the Yellow Sea; China tries to deny U.S. aircraft carriers access to international waters. Wall Street Journal Asia, July 20, 2010.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720504575376543238506542.html
("U.S. warships regularly transit and exercise in the international waters of the Yellow Sea, as they do in the East and South China Seas. But in recent years, the Chinese Navy has begun to challenge the international 'rules of the road' governing how ships and planes operate in open waters—more than 12 nautical miles offshore. * * * The mainland's military and political theorists have put forward the novel claim that militaries can only undertake survey activities in the exclusive economic zone of another country—within 200 miles of shore—with its express permission.")