Even after last month’s ruling from the international court at the Hague against China’s claims of exclusive territorial rights and its ongoing construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, China continues to press on unabated for greater territorial control. China is essentially bullying its way though not just the South China Sea, but now into the East China Sea. On Aug. 6, a Chinese flotilla of almost 250 fishing vessels, including 13 coast guard ships, sailed into the East China Sea and surrounded the Senkaku Islands 250 miles off the coast of Japan. These uninhabited islands have long been claimed by Japan.

Sneakily, the method used by China to increase its territorial expansion is thorough the seemingly nonthreatening means of “fishermen” — masses of them. Andrew Erickson, associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College, refers to these Chinese fishermen as “little blue men.” They are essentially incognito soldiers infiltrating the disputed territory and setting up shop. This is similar to what Russia has done in Crimea and eastern Ukraine (things are heating up again there even now). And since these Chinese “fishermen” are civilians, any type of aggressive military response on the part of Japan would quickly bring condemnation from the Chinese as well as possible military retaliation — note the convenient presence of the 13 coast guard ships. In one sense it is a brilliant all though obvious strategy on China’s part, especially since the U.S. thus far seems rather reticent to do anything about it, other than to publicly condemn China’s actions.

But why are the Chinese after the Senkaku Islands? As the Hudson Institute’s Arthur Herman writes, “China’s establishing clear sovereignty over the Senkakus would limit U.S. freedom of action from bases in Japan like Okinawa, and would be a signal defeat for the U.S. and its allies in the region — and a major victory for China’s drive to establish an unchallengeable hegemony across the entire Western Pacific.”

What is Obama’s response to this continued Chinese aggression? More of the same unclear, seemingly empty threats. It maybe that Obama’s more concerned about getting China to adopt some deal on emissions limits as a means to combat the “threat” of climate change, which Obama and his cadres say is as dangerous as the Islamic State, rather than deal with the very real geopolitical threat of China controlling the Western Pacific Ocean. It’s a good bet that China need not worry of any action coming against it from the U.S. so long as Obama is in the White House.