Mekong Deployment Latest Sign of China's Growing Interventionism

Geopolitical tension between China and United States seemed to reach new heights this week, with the U.S. announcing a new troop presence in Australia and China reacting to the announcement with a predictable level of irritation. But China’s own evolving posture is equally worthy of scrutiny as the strategic chess match between the two grows increasingly militarized.

Most recently, China announced that five patrol ships from one of its maritime forces -- the Yunnan Provincial Border Control Corps -- will be deployed along the Mekong River, which runs from China along Laos’ borders with Myanmar and Thailand, and into Cambodia and Vietnam. ...