Compare Chinese restraint in the Spratly Islands with Turkey's reckless action over the Syrian border.

Early in December two United States B52 bombers flew over, or close to, Chinese territory in the Spratly Islands, a disputed group of islands in the South China Sea where there may be significant oil and gas reserves.

Some reports suggest the B52s may have strayed off-course due to navigational error or bad weather.  Nevertheless, the  Chinese were obviously annoyed by their presence and claimed the Americans were deliberately raising tensions by such overflights.  They put their military on high alert during the "provocation" and warned the Americans to leave, but took no further action.

Only weeks earlier a Russian bomber was shot down by Turkish fighter jets because it apparently spent just 12 seconds in Turkish airspace.  Two Russian servicemen were killed as result of this incident, one being machine gunned as he parachuted from his burning aircraft.  Since 9/11 all nations can be expected to defend their airspace vigorously and no-one should doubt the capabilities of the Turkish military. Be that as it may, the Russian SU24 was destroyed for the flimsiest of reasons. 

With the Middle East and North Africa in turmoil the last thing needed is a conflict between superpowers in the Pacific.  Fortunately the Chinese showed commendable restraint.  Had they reacted in the same hot-headed manner as did the Turks we may not have survived the consequences long enough to see in the New Year.