Chinese presence challenges assumptions of American primacy

The mass of Chinese frigates supports a wider effort to counter the perception of American power in nearby waters. This is contrasted with a European assumption that the United States will ultimately provide military backing, an expectation that has enabled years of lower European defence spending. In the interpretation offered here, American officials often encouraged dependent and compliant allies because the Suez Crisis showed that Britain and France might otherwise act without Washington's approval. Frigate numbers therefore lead into alliance history: routine presence helps determine whose power appears normal and dependable before a crisis begins.