In the International Herald Tribune, Howard French writes about a new effort to contain China through coalitions of its neighbors:
While never openly espoused by any government, the idea has tempted foreign policy thinkers not just in the United States, but in Japan and to a lesser degree perhaps Australia, too.
It is not hard to understand why, either, for the thought is beautiful in its simplicity. And while no one in a position of responsibility in any of these countries has started calling China an enemy, it is based on an ancient principle: that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
That this schema has never gotten very far off the ground has more than one cause.
