The South China Sea challenge

This is apropos a Business Recorder news item "China, Russia to hold joint exercises in S China Sea" carried by the newspaper on Friday. According to it, China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in September. China has decided to take this seemingly belligerent action after an international tribunal invalidated the Asian giant's extensive claims in the sea.
With international diplomatic tensions mounting and Washington regularly sending warships into the strategically vital area to assert the right to freedom of navigation, the move could see vessels from several of the world's most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time.
The situation in the South China Sea is indeed profound. The American hubris has led to forge a unity between Beijing and Moscow. These two countries were greatly closer to each other during the days of Chairman Mao and the Soviet leader Stalin. The former 'Middle Kingdom' has the ability to protect and preserve its interests.