美国路线的调整也受到其他考虑因素的影响：对于中国和邻国的争端问题，站队对美国来说没有任何好处 — — 当然，除非美国的直接利益受到了影响，南海问题便是如此，美国的领海主张威胁到某些世界最繁忙的海运路线。
The US course correction is being dictated by another consideration as well: America has nothing to gain from taking sides in China’s disputes with its neighbors – unless, of course, US interests are directly at stake, as in the South China Sea, where Chinese maritime claims threaten freedom of navigation in some of the world’s most heavily trafficked shipping lanes.