However, China is not helping the situation with their actions in the South China Sea.
Don't you see how the American public are being manipulated here into thinking this will be the excuse for war. This happens every time. Every country the US invades, they will use the media in the years before to sow the seeds for justification.
Communism for Vietnam. (Communism is still in charge in a united Vietnam - the world did not end - no justified invasion)
Removing a "dictator" for Panama. (Noriega was previously CIA-backed, but decided that Panama deserved control of the Panama canal rather than owned by Americans. The US can't have that, so "human rights" was mentioned in the papers in the many months before invasion).
Terrorism for Afghanistan. (9/11 financed and perpetrated by Saudi Arabia. Media saturation about the boogie man living in caves. Let's invade Afghanistan for their mineral wealth).
WMDs for Iraq. (Saddam was previously CIA-backed, but fell out of favour when he wanted to sell oil in Euros. WMDs and human rights hit the headlines for the next year to scare the public).
Every time history shows the same pattern and every time the public falls for it.