I was very disheartened by your editorial, “Strong navy needed to steer rise of China in uncertain world” (April 14). My question to the editor would be: “Why?”

Does China feel threatened in some way? While condemning the coalition bombing of Syria as contravening the UN Charter, China has refused to acknowledge the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea with regard to ownership of the South China Sea.

It has defied the legitimate claims of the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. It protests at the legitimate claims to freedom of navigation from almost all world powers. It has reclaimed and militarised numerous islands and shoals in the disputed islands and has now installed communications-jamming facilities.