Japan as the US' key ally also conducts frequent surveillances against China, and has intensified their frequency in the past couple of years, that is, since the straining of ties. The two countries continue to spy on China ignoring Beijing's frequent objections since 2012.
Sometimes these surveillance tools (planes and ships) pose a real danger because they disturb the normal activities of the Chinese navy. For example, US cruisers have entered the waters that China had clearly marked for drills, while Japanese vessels have sailed in front of or even intruded formations of Chinese naval fleets. Such actions could easily cause the situation to spiral out of control, and thus should be immediately stopped.
By sensationalizing a non-incident, American media outlets cannot change the general trend of improving Sino-US relationship. They should know that Darryn James has been quoted as saying that the US "respects" the right of free passage and the Rimpac exercise "goes on smoothly" despite the minor incident.
But the fact that the Western media tried to sensationalize the so-called spy incident shows that opinions are divided in the US over improving military ties with China. Many media outlets even criticized US President Barack Obama's decision last year to invite the People's Liberation Army Navy to the 2014 Rimpac.
The 2014 Rimpac is the Chinese navy's first appearance in the US-led joint exercise, which is key to Sino-US confidence building. The road to better, harmonious Sino-US military relations is long and both countries need to make sincere efforts to complete the journey.
The author is a researcher at the People's Liberation Army Naval Military Studies Research Institute.