Absolute coherence when it comes foreign policy is a rare thing. International relations will forever be a mix of principles, interests, circumstances, and necessities. But recognition of that fact doesn’t mean one has to jump to the opposite conclusion that foreign policy is simply a grab bag of decisions, lacking any coherence whatsoever. But, more and more, this appears to be the case when it comes to the Obama administration’s so-called “pivot” to Asia.

The latest example has been the administration’s response to the Nov. 23 announcement by China that it was establishing an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over a huge expanse of the East China Sea, including over the Japanese administered Senkaku islets.  In doing so, Beijing announced that it expected all commercial and military aircraft flying into zone to provide it with advanced warning about flight plans, be constantly available for contact by Chinese authorities and maintain clear identification procedures while passing through the ADIZ.  Failure to follow any of these rules, the Chinese said, would elicit “defensive emergency measures.”