There have been reports that two Chinese fighter jets recently intercepted a US U-2 spy plane over the Taiwan Straits. When asked to comment on the incident, US Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday: "We both have to be very careful about how we fly them. We have to be careful about the intercepts."

His remarks certainly sound prudent, but they carefully avoided the crucial point - it is the US military's dangerous war games around China's air and maritime territory that have repeatedly triggered China's legitimate response.

The cause and effect should be clear to everyone.