Military tensions flare on the road to stability

"Beijing is not so much contemptuous of Australia as contemptuous of the rules and norms that allow Australia, and other foreign navies and air forces, to legally sail and fly where we do in the South China Sea and north Asia," says Lowy Institute Senior Fellow for East Asia, Richard McGregor. "Beijing has a longstanding aim of forcing all foreign militaries, most of all the Americans, but also their allies, away from its shores, whatever their missions, and push them back beyond Japan and the first island chain. That won't stop no matter how good bilateral ties are." US Assistant…