The United States has beefed up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in the South China Sea, over the past months, apparently to challenge China's lawful claims.

To some extent, Washington's agenda-setting tactics, including official announcements, outlandish media reports and so-called academic interpretations, have worked, giving Beijing's foreign affairs and defense authorities a hard time hitting back.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said recently that the Pentagon is "constantly evaluating" China's militarization of the South China Sea, stopping short of agreeing with a Hawaii congressman's proposal to withdraw the invitation to China to take part in a high-profile global naval exercise. This could be another trick of US politicians in their media war against China.