【明報專訊】AFTER much publicity, the US guided missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed around the Spratly Islands, which belong to China. The destroyer lingered for several hours before leaving the region. This so-called "patrol" was clearly an act of provocation the US carried out relying on its military advantage. Though the patrol was not followed by a military confrontation, the US has declared that it will continue to conduct patrols in the region. The Beijing authorities, on the other hand, have summoned the US ambassador to China, stressing that they "will continue to monitor closely the situations at sea and in the air, and will take all necessary measures should the need arise." By patrolling around the islands yesterday, the USS Lassen has opened a new chapter in the competition between China and the US. The possibility of future military confrontations cannot be ruled out.