In the war of words between the United States and communist China over the coronavirus, in which Beijing accused Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of being a “liar” and an “enemy of humankind,” a less colorful but more serious message may have been overlooked.

In late April, the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry completed a routine freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea. In response, Beijing stated that it “expelled” our warship, describing its patrol as “provocative” and a serious violation of its sovereignty and security interests, one that “could easily trigger an unexpected incident.”