India, Feb. 22 -- China's role in the region is a constant pressure in one direction. New Zealand and Australian policies towards the region have been naive at best, and the situation was worsened by U.S. State Department following Canberra and Wellington's lead.

Washington, D.C.:This past week flights were diverted between Australia and New Zealand to avoid Chinese military live fire exercises, three Chinese military ships sailed within 277 kilometres of Sydney, and the Cook Islands and China agreed an "Action Plan 2025-2030 for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Cook Islands and the People's Republic of China".

None of this was a surprise. China's goals in the region were made clear in its "China Pacific Islands Commo...