further, given the historical realities, china is fully justified to a response that would - and should - be viewed as offensive in just about any other circumstance. i'd argue that they have a right to shoot upon near encroachment.
it's a unique circumstance. china has no obligation to be patient, and the international community should not expect patience.
whether america is cognizant of what it is doing or not, it is aligning itself on what is not just the wrong side of some future history but the wrong side of existing history. nobody will tolerate this.
nobody should.