South China Sea a New Chinese Lake

       Chinese military units have begun patrolling the perimeter of their new naval airbase in the Paracels Islands, those built-up mud bumps way down south in the ocean known as the South China Sea.  No doubt President Xi Jin Ping took the name literally, and has piled up enough sand to build a habitable space.  The US Navy sent the aircraft carrier, John Stennis, and her escorts on a mission in the vicinity to ensure that China knows we know what she is up to, and also to demonstrate to our allies that we are available in the neighborhood.
     And the Dalai Lama, leader -in-exile of Tibet, called on China to give back his country, stolen from them by Communists under Mao Zedong.  Good luck with that request.