Protection Racket

When you're in the business of selling security to your allies, an olive branch is a terrifying weapon of mass distraction.

China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang echoed concerns expressed in this space yesterday, warning that the U.S. policy of checking China was putting both nations on a path toward conflict.

China doesn’t help matters, of course, by rising to every morsel of bait U.S. politicians toss into the water with military exercises. But Qin’s comments amplify remarks t…